Drakaina (mythology)

In Greek mythology, a drakaina (Ancient Greek: δράκαινα) is a female serpent or dragon, sometimes with human-like features.

Mythology

Examples of the Drakaina included Campe, Delphyne, Echidna and Sybaris.

Python, slain by Apollo, and the earliest representations of Delphyne are shown as simply gigantic serpents, similar to other Greek dragons. However, although the word "drakaina" is literally the feminine form of drakon (Ancient Greek for dragon or serpent), most drakainas had some features of a human woman. Lamia, Campe, Echidna, and many representations of Ceto, Scylla and Delphyne had the head and torso of a woman.

The drakaina was a monster generally slain only by gods or demigods. Zeus slew Delphyne and Campe, Apollo slew Python, and Argus Panoptes slew Echidna.

Echidna was the mother of a huge brood of monsters, including other dragon-like creatures. According to Hesiod, Echidna gave birth to Cerberus, Orthrus, the Chimera, the Nemean lion, the Sphinx and the Hydra (Other ancient authors, such as Hyginus, attribute even more monsters as children of Echidna such as the Caucasian eagle, the Crommyonian Sow, the Colchian dragon, the Harpies and Scylla.)

Drakaina (model)

Drakaina (French pronunciation: ​[draˈka.ena]) (born August 28, 1975) is a French actress and model. The name, Drakaina, means she dragon in Greek and it came up while Ariock and Drakaina were talking about Echidna, the mother of all monsters : he mentioned that she was a "Drakaina", and she instantly knew that it would be her name... --from Drakaina's official biography-- Drakaina is a registered trademark belonging to Drakaina since 2001.

Biography

Early life

Drakaina was born in Vincennes, France. Her father, Gilles, is a retired restaurant owner and her mother, Catherine, is a breeder of Pyrenean Mountain Dogs. Drakaina began her acting career after being spotted in a club. Beforehand, she had been working as a receptionist and been a model for an international hair product company CAPIRELAX. She is best known for her career as a Fantasy art Model, working with over 340 international painters and comic book artists.

Career

Since 2001, Drakaina has appeared in a number of both French magazines which include Playboy, Verites, Khimairia, New Look, as well as television/radio productions TF1, Europe1, France3, and comedy. She became Ariock's spokesmodel and has been recognized as France's first ever Fantasy art model. She had a supporting role in the 2001 TV film, Sa mère la pute. In August 2006, Drakaina relocated to Canada where she is now pursuing her acting career.