Pickled dragon! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

hu-man · 03-02-2004, 04:57 AM

Quote:

A pickled "dragon" that looks as if it might once have flown around Harry Potter's Hogwarts has been found in a garage in Oxfordshire, England.

The baby dragon, in a sealed jar, was discovered with a metal tin containing paperwork in old-fashioned German of the 1890s.

Allistair Mitchell, who was asked to investigate the dragon by a friend, David Hart, who discovered it in his garage, speculates that German scientists may have attempted to use the dragon to hoax their English counterparts at the end of the 19th century, when rivalry between the countries was intense.

"At the time, scientists were the equivalent of today's pop stars. It would have been a great propaganda coup for the Germans if it had come off," Mr Mitchell said.

"I've shown the photos to someone from Oxford University and he thought it was amazing. Obviously he could not say if it was real and wanted to do a biopsy."

The documents suggest that the Natural History Museum turned the dragon away, possibly because they suspected it was a trick, and sent it to be destroyed. But it appears a porter intercepted the jar and took it home. The papers suggest the porter may have been Frederick Hart - David Hart's grandfather.

Mr Mitchell said: "The dragon is flawless, from the tiny teeth to the umbilical cord. It could be made from indiarubber, because Germany was the world's leading manufacturer of it at the time, or it could be made of wax. It has to be fake. No one has ever proved scientifically that dragons exist. But everyone who sees it immediately asks, 'Is it real?"'

Some scientists believe that dragons, though the product of imagination, were inspired by the extraordinary creatures that once roamed the Earth.

As J.K.Rowling's alter ego Hermione Granger once suggested, legends have a basis in fact.

Peetster · 03-02-2004, 05:06 AM

That's an awesome piece of forgery for 1890.

User Name · 03-02-2004, 05:30 AM

Isn't anybody gioing to scientifically examine it or anything? I know the chances of it being a dragon are .000000001%, but they should analyze it to make sure.

Cynthetiq · 03-02-2004, 06:53 AM

i'd like to see more pictures of it.

JStrider · 03-02-2004, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
i'd like to see more pictures of it.

me too!

Cycler · 03-02-2004, 08:11 AM

Pretty sweet trick.

jwoody · 03-02-2004, 08:19 AM

Whodathunkit? Dragons have umbilicle cords! I always thought they hatched out of eggs.

Not sure about a biopsy though, I'd rather it stayed in the jar; what's the point in cutting it up when nobody seriously believes it's anything other than moulded rubber in brine?

rockzilla · 03-02-2004, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hu-man
"At the time, scientists were the equivalent of today's pop stars.

So did Marie Curie ever make out with S. Josephine Baker at the Nobel Prize ceremonies?

Cynthetiq · 03-02-2004, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jwoody
Whodathunkit? Dragons have umbilicle cords! I always thought they hatched out of eggs.

Not sure about a biopsy though, I'd rather it stayed in the jar; what's the point in cutting it up when nobody seriously believes it's anything other than moulded rubber in brine?

Umbilical cords are also in animals that are hatched out of eggs. the umbilical cord connects the fetus to a placenta or other source or nourishment. If you were to see the development of chicken you'd see the umbilical cord connected from the fetus to the yolk sack.

BTW.. is there any link as to where this orignates form?

water_boy1999 · 03-02-2004, 11:03 AM

Interesting article. If there was really any doubt about it's authenticity, that little dragon would have been cut up a thousand times already. Has to be fake.

onodrim · 03-02-2004, 11:08 AM

Wow, very impressive for that time period to fake something that well. Of course, the fanatasy and supernatural lover in me wants to believe its real.

the420star · 03-02-2004, 11:27 AM

thats pretty crazy... i would like the person who owns it to let it be tested... the amount they would need to test it would be so little, it wouldnt damage it, if it happens to be a hoax

ariekitten · 03-02-2004, 11:33 AM

yeah they could just pull it outta the jar and feel to see if it was rubber or whatever.....but it's definitely cool lookin

RoboBlaster · 03-02-2004, 12:27 PM

I wouldn't mind havong one to keep for myself. It would be a great conversation starter.

Cynthetiq · 03-02-2004, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RoboBlaster
I wouldn't mind havong one to keep for myself. It would be a great conversation starter.

exactly what some of my collegues said.

which makes me think that if I could manufacture this for a few pennies, put them into a jar of suspended liquid, label it like it was a specimen, charge a small fortune for it, looks like i'd have the 21st century Pet Rock.

Crack · 03-02-2004, 02:05 PM

I really WANT it to be real...

CrazySaturn · 03-02-2004, 03:43 PM

Haha, once they open the jar it'll jump out and take over the world.

Church · 03-02-2004, 03:51 PM

I'm not saying its true, but I'm not going to try and disprove it either. Although it is strange that that vile disappeared 2 days after that was posted, there have been articles coming up recently suggesting that a dragon like animal once lived. I can't find any of them now, but I'll keep looking.

bundy · 03-02-2004, 03:53 PM

dragons do exist.
see, Komodo Dragons, Water Dragons etc...

but this is just some great piece forgery/art.

Fremen · 03-02-2004, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RoboBlaster
I wouldn't mind havong one to keep for myself. It would be a great conversation starter.

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
exactly what some of my collegues said.

which makes me think that if I could manufacture this for a few pennies, put them into a jar of suspended liquid, label it like it was a specimen, charge a small fortune for it, looks like i'd have the 21st century Pet Rock.

Reminds me of the alleged head of Joaquin Murieta making the rounds in the jar in 19th century California.
People payed money to look at it, too.

*Nikki* · 03-02-2004, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crackprogram
I really WANT it to be real...

Me too!! I love the idea of it all

Annabella · 03-17-2004, 09:31 AM

don't understand you all allways!

03-02-2004, 06:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	i'd like to see more pictures of it. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-02-2004, 08:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cycler Float on.... Alright Location: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains, i.e. Oklahoma	Pretty sweet trick. __________________ "I'm not even supposed to be here today." "I assure you we're open."

03-02-2004, 08:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
jwoody Shackle Me Not Location: Newcastle - England.	Whodathunkit? Dragons have umbilicle cords! I always thought they hatched out of eggs. Not sure about a biopsy though, I'd rather it stayed in the jar; what's the point in cutting it up when nobody seriously believes it's anything other than moulded rubber in brine? __________________ .

03-02-2004, 11:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
water_boy1999 Fly em straight! Location: Above and Beyond	Interesting article. If there was really any doubt about it's authenticity, that little dragon would have been cut up a thousand times already. Has to be fake. __________________ Doh!!!! -Homer Simpson

03-02-2004, 11:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
onodrim Cosmically Curious Location: Chicago, IL	Wow, very impressive for that time period to fake something that well. Of course, the fanatasy and supernatural lover in me wants to believe its real. __________________ "The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides" -Carl Sagan

03-02-2004, 05:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Peetster Right Now Location: Home	That's an awesome piece of forgery for 1890.

03-02-2004, 05:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
User Name Banned Location: Urf	Isn't anybody gioing to scientifically examine it or anything? I know the chances of it being a dragon are .000000001%, but they should analyze it to make sure.

03-02-2004, 11:27 AM	#12 (permalink)
the420star Psycho Location: Cow Country, CT	thats pretty crazy... i would like the person who owns it to let it be tested... the amount they would need to test it would be so little, it wouldnt damage it, if it happens to be a hoax __________________ No, they arnt breasts, they are personalities, because its ok to like a girl for her personalities.

03-02-2004, 11:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
ariekitten bAck iN aCtiOn! Location: in my imagination	yeah they could just pull it outta the jar and feel to see if it was rubber or whatever.....but it's definitely cool lookin __________________ I am known as Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gombigobilla Blue Stradivari Talentrent Pierre Andri Charton-Haymoss Ivanovici Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser III. Don't hesitate to call. ~Vash, Trigun >'.'< kitty kitty, meow ^..^~

03-02-2004, 12:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
RoboBlaster Psycho Location: Ouuuterrrr Spaaaaacccceeee	I wouldn't mind havong one to keep for myself. It would be a great conversation starter.

03-02-2004, 02:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
Crack Misanthropic Location: Ohio! yay!	I really WANT it to be real... __________________ Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex. ~Halx

03-02-2004, 03:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
CrazySaturn Insane Location: Champaign, IL	Haha, once they open the jar it'll jump out and take over the world. __________________ What's the difference between you and a mallard with a cold? One's a sick duck...I can't remember how it ends, but your mother is a whore!

03-02-2004, 03:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
Church Tilted F*ckhead Location: New Jersey	I'm not saying its true, but I'm not going to try and disprove it either. Although it is strange that that vile disappeared 2 days after that was posted, there have been articles coming up recently suggesting that a dragon like animal once lived. I can't find any of them now, but I'll keep looking. __________________ Through counter-intelligence, it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble makers, and neutralize them.

03-02-2004, 03:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	dragons do exist. see, Komodo Dragons, Water Dragons etc... but this is just some great piece forgery/art. __________________ Ohayo!!!

03-17-2004, 09:31 AM	#22 (permalink)
Annabella Tilted	don't understand you all allways! __________________ Milloin vaan voi kiihoittua!!