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does it have to be from greek myth?

Actually, the word dragon itself COMES from Greek Mythology (Drakon, feminine Drakaina). Dragons in other mythologies are actually giant snakes or combinations of various animals, like the Chinese Dragon, and we only call them dragons because of their resemblance to the Drakones of Greece.

Classical mythology featured a great deal of dragons. Some of the most notable were Ladon, guardian of Hera's Orchards; Python, the drakon of the Delphian temple; and Hydra, the nine-headed drakaina of the Lernaean swamp.

You'll also notice a tendency in adaptions of mythology to multiply monsters which are actually singular beings. Pegasos was the name of the winged horse himself, son of Medousa and Poseidon - not the name of a species of winged horses. One might also mention Pegasos' twin brother Khrysaor, who was either a man or a winged boar.

Sphinx (or Phix) was also a proper name in Greek Mythology (although the Greeks borrowed the imagery of the sphinx from egyptian motifs). Sphinx was a daughter of Ekhidna, who dwelled in Thebes and murdered passersby who could not answer her riddles, until Oedipus drove her to suicide by answering correctly.

There were also only two harpies, Aello and Okypete. They were winged storm goddesses, the daughters of Thaumas and Elektra and sisters to the rainbow goddesses Iris and Arke.

Not really. Giant snakes are in a lot of myths. Etiologically speaking, snakes have been an age-long threat to mankind (along with wolves), and so it's natural that many cultures feature snakes as symbols of corruption, seduction and evil (compare the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the Greek Drakon Ladon of the Hesperian Garden). By convention, we tend to call various snake monsters from different cultures 'dragons', but most of them have little to do with each other. Norse 'dragons' (Dreki) like Jormungandr and Fafnir are perhaps the closest comparisons to Greek Drakones. Celtic 'dragons' (Wyrms) were not winged, simply serpentine creatures living in swamps and lakes. Chinese dragons (Long) only superficially resemble European ones, but in fact are comprised of completely different animal traits and have entirely distinct mythological functions. It would be a far stretch to assume that the 'Plumed Serpent' of Mesoamerican myth or the 'Naga' of Vedic Indian myth are dragons. There weren't any 'dragon' creatures in Mesapotamian or Polynesian mythologies, and there were DEFINITELY no dragons in Egyptian mythology, unless you count the serpent demon Apep (eat your heart out, Yu-Gi-Oh!).

A hydra! Or a pegasus (though I would much rather have a unicorn. wink )

I think so too. I believe in all those fantasical creatures. I just know they are out there, but we haven't got to them yet because they don't show themselves to us. They have seen the distruction we humans cause and have gone into hiding. Did you ever think the mistery of the Bermuda Triangle would have anything to do with it?

I would definately want a pegasus. Cerberus would be a cool pet too. Oh, or a siren.

i remember that!!! i saw a video on it. i would have a hippocampus (horse-fishie) or a pegasus, even tho im afraid of heights.