St. George: Knight, Martyr, Patron, Saint, and Dragonslayer

by Giles Morgan

This book explores the variety of symbolic, moral and religious meanings that are embodied in this contradictory figure.

Genres: History, Religion, Biography, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morgan does too much summery in places, and he could have supported some of his ideas with a bit more detail, in particular the connection to Greek and Islamic myths and culture. Yet, there is a bunch on interesting facts and ideas, in particular connecting pop culture figures to St. George. Personally, though, I found it strange that he disregard Spenser and his use of the Red Crosse Knight.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author treats St. George as a more mythical character as opposed to a religious martyr. He compares the legends relating to dragons with stories of St. George. The author relates that St. George might have been a Roman solider who refused to make sacrifices to pagan gods.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides various theories on St George.

I couldn’t engage with this book – it read like a school text book (with no clear narrative).

Overall rating 2.5

[Garrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that this book could have been a lot better. Reading it really felt like reading a high school term paper at times. The author tends to go too far afield in my opinion drawing connections to other myths and stories outside of the West. Likewise, I was surprised at the the cursory overview given to other sections. When discussing St. George as Icon, the author discusses Milton to some extant but entirely ignores Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.

Again, this was okay. I enjoyed some parts of it but overall it seemed to be lacking.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first became aware of St. George in an icon painting class and when I saw this book , I immediately decided to check it out and read it. I found the history of St. George fascinating as he is the patron saint of England and Ethiopia and Turkey and also appears as Al Kdmir in Muslim history. I wished that the book had photos of the icons and paintings in all of the places he appeared.

[Sumon Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

St George stands as one of the most widely venerated and symbolically powerful figures in Christian tradition, yet paradoxically also one of the most historically elusive. His cult spans continents, cultures and religions, and his image as knight, martyr and dragonslayer has shaped Christian imagination for more than a millennium. Although medieval legend and later national mythologies often obscure the real man, the core of his story remains that of a Christian soldier who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods and died for his faith.
The historical George is difficult to reconstruct. Early inscriptions in Syria and Palestine, along with accounts from Eusebius, suggest an early fourth-century martyrdom, possibly at Lydda in Palestine during the persecutions of Diocletian. Yet no contemporary text names him explicitly. The earliest narrative life—found at Qasr Ibrim in Nubia—casts him as the son of a Cappadocian living in Nobatia, secretly baptised, rising to military rank, denouncing pagan worship, enduring horrific tortures, and miraculously surviving through divine intervention before dying by beheading. This Nubian account places him alongside other warrior-saints who suffered under late Roman emperors and reflects a lively regional devotion, though it cannot be treated as straightforward biography. Later confusion with another George of Cappadocia, a heretical fourth-century bishop, further complicates matters. Already in 494, Pope Gelasius condemned various fantastical Acts of St George, while still affirming the existence and veneration of a true martyr behind the legends.
Over time, St George’s cult grew immensely. By the sixth century he appears in Christian iconography, often paired with the Virgin Mary and honoured as the “great martyr.” His association with martial victory, springtime, purity and divine protection made him a preferred patron across the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe. Early imagery of emperors and even Christ trampling serpents likely helped shape the later dragon-slaying motif. By the medieval period, George was firmly established as a warrior-saint whose intervention was invoked on battlefields, especially during the Crusades. Artistic depictions at Fordington and Hardham, and numerous accounts from Antioch and Jerusalem, present him as a heavenly knight aiding Christian armies.
The dragon legend, famously transmitted by Jacobus de Voragine’s Golden Legend, transformed George into a universal symbol of heroic virtue. Set in Libya, the tale of the princess, the monstrous dragon, and the mass conversion that follows George’s victory blended Christian morality with ancient mythic patterns. Parallels to Perseus, Theseus, and other heroic dragon-slayers from Near Eastern, Indian, and Norse mythology enriched its resonance. The story’s themes of spring triumphing over winter, purity conquering chaos, and divine power liberating the oppressed made George a figure who transcended cultures. In the Islamic world, he was linked with the mysterious immortal figure al-Khidr, and both Christians and Muslims venerated his shrine at Lydda.
In medieval Europe, his cult spread rapidly. Relics such as the Portbail casket carried his fame into Normandy and, later, England. The Normans brought his symbol of the red cross to their new lands, and George soon became an emblem of Christian knighthood. Crusaders considered him their heavenly patron, and his image adorned churches, armour, flags and coins. Across Spain, Germany and Italy he was invoked in battles and royal ceremonies.
England, however, made him its own in a unique way. From Edward III onward, St George became inseparable from English monarchy, chivalry and national identity. The red cross of St George entered civic arms; Henry V turned him into a battle cry; Caxton’s printed Golden Legend popularised him among ordinary believers; and Henry VIII fixed him definitively as England’s patron saint. By the early modern period, he stood at the centre of royal ritual through the Order of the Garter and St George’s Chapel at Windsor.
In modern times, St George’s symbolism continues to evolve. He appears in nationalism, popular culture and sport—sometimes inspiring unity, sometimes misappropriated for exclusivist ideologies. His image survives in everything from political emblems to Bob Marley’s album art and comparisons with contemporary sporting heroes. Yet his most enduring legacy remains spiritual: the figure of a courageous martyr who embodies steadfast faith, righteous struggle against evil, and the hope of renewal symbolised by the coming of spring.

[Kevin Gibbons · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It is a decent little survey of the life and cult of St. George through the ages. However, a lot of the treatment is rather superficial. Often, the author describes a fact about the legend of St. George, and then proceeds to talk about a separate folk legend that is tangentially related at best. For example, the author discusses the story of Jason and the Argonauts, because, like the legend of St. George, the story of the Argo and its crew involves water and a monster. Such associations really detract from the coherence of the book, and a cynical reader might conclude that they are only there to cover for a lack of interesting research or commentary about St. George himself. Additionally, many of the discussions in the book treat reports of paranormal activity in a strikingly uncritical manner (cf. the author's discussion of the Angels of Mons).

Still, I learned new things about St. George, and a number of other saints and legends too. In as far as this book is meant to be a easy introduction to the life and legend of St. George, it accomplishes its mission.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up from the library because I realised I knew absolutely nothing about St George, other than he's our Patron Saint and he slew the dragon.

I found this lil book really interesting, read it in basically an afternoon but it was jam-packed full of theories on who the original St George might have been, how the mythologies and legends grew - and where they may have come from. It's more about the history of the stories around St George than an actual history but still a really good read

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me horror is always connected to myths and legends. Reason enough to pick up this compendium on one of the most famous and iconic saints of all times. The author manages to narrate who he might have been and why he became an icon. You come across the true story behind the myth, hear about other saints and mythological heroes in the context. In the end you'll learn why St George is the patron saint of England. Marvelous, revealing, full of insight I didn't know before. Highly recommended!

[Redd Oscar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay for a basic overview. Author skips over somethings and focuses on odd comparisons to other ancient stories. His discussion post 1900, and especially contemporary, is awful.