The mythosaurs were massive creatures that lived on Mandalore. They were in charge until Mandalore the First and the Taung Mandalorians arrived. They fought the mythosaurs and made them extinct.
After that, the skull of a mythosaur became a symbol. It represented the Mandalorians and their leader, the Mandalore. It stayed important for many generations.
What is a Mythosaur?
Mythosaurs, as the name implies, are legendary creatures of immense size. They possess dark yellow scales and distinctive horn-like tusks on each side of their mouths. The Mythosaur seen in episode 2 made its lair by the Living Waters of Mandalore. But, the species itself is amphibious and can thrive both on land and underwater.
According to legend, Mandalore the Great once battled a Mythosaur and managed to defeat it. Remarkably, he tamed the beast and rode it into battle, setting an example for other ancient Mandalorian warriors. Regrettably, the era of Mandalorians mounted on these majestic monsters didn’t last. And, the Mythosaurs had become extinct long before the events of The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 1
In Season 3, Episode 1 of The Mandalorian, the legendary Star Wars creature, the Mythosaur, made a return. Prophecies have always played a significant role in Star Wars, dating back to the prequel trilogy. This made fans pay close attention when the Armorer mentioned a prophecy about a Mandalorian Chosen One in The Book of Boba Fett, Episode 5.
The Armorer declared, The songs of eons past foretold of the Mythosaur rising up to herald a new age of Mandalore. She emphasized that the Mythosaur is a legendary figure, even among Mandalorians. It became apparent that the plot was leading toward the Mythosaur’s return, most likely in The Mandalorian Season 3.
The Mandalorian went to Mandalore to find redemption, and he quickly encountered a Mythosaur. What surprised fans was how fast The Mandalorian Season 3 was moving through the expected storyline.
It suggests that there are likely significant twists coming up. Whatever lies ahead, it definitely involves Mythosaurs. Here’s what viewers should know about these giant creatures.
What Star Wars Canon Has Revealed About Mythosaurs?
The Mythosaurs in the Star Wars canon remain quite mysterious. Even the Armorer, who’s among the most devoted Mandalorians, viewed them as mere legends. However, she proudly displayed the Mythosaur skull symbol at her Forge in The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 1. This skull is the symbol that unites the Mandalorian clans, just as it did in the old Expanded Universe.
The legend of Mandalore’s Mythosaur seems to have spread throughout the galaxy. In The Mandalorian Season 1, Episode 1, Kuiil teased Din Djarin about struggling to ride a blurrg by saying, “Your ancestors rode the great Mythosaur.” This suggests that some believed in the existence of Mythosaurs, even if the Mandalorians themselves had lost faith in their existence.
Mythosaurs’ History
The Armorer claimed that Mythosaurs only existed in legend, and she was technically correct because they are a well-known part of Star Wars Legends, the now non-canon Expanded Universe.
According to Mandalorian Expanded Universe lore, Mythosaurs were native to Mandalore and were apex predators, some reaching the size of entire cities. However, their power made them a target for the Mandalorians.
In The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 2, we see a Mythosaur alive in the present day for the first time, even considering the Legends material. Until now, there was only a single image of these creatures in Daniel Wallace, Jason Fry, and Ryder Windham’s The Bounty Hunter Code: From The Files of Boba Fett. This episode marks a significant moment in Star Wars history.
The mythosaur, although extinct, remained a legendary figure in Mandalorian mythology. The calcified bones of mythosaurs were used by ancient Mandalorians to build their first cities and craft lethal weapons like the mythosaur axe, which featured sharpened bone plates arranged in a fan shape atop a long pole grip.
Mythosaurs’ Legacy
While often seen as a ceremonial weapon, Mandalorian Crusaders and experienced warriors used mythosaur axes in combat for thousands of years. The skull of the mythosaur became a symbol of Mandalore and its people, especially the Mand’alor, the traditional leader of the Mandalorian clans.
The rigid bone from a mythosaur’s sternum was taken from one of the creature’s hearts and carved into a ceremonial mask for Mandalore the First. This mask was passed down through generations and worn by each successive claimant to the title of Mand’alor.
Even when the use of the ceremonial mask fell out of practice, Mandalorians referred to the metaphorical “crown” worn by the reigning Mand’alor as the kyr’bes, or mythosaur skull.
Wrapping Up
Mythosaurs are legendary creatures of great size in the Star Wars universe. Their significance in Mandalorian culture and history is profound. It’s as they were used in ancient times for various purposes, including as mounts in battle.
While they are considered extinct by the time of The Mandalorian series, their iconic symbol, the Mythosaur skull, continues to hold great meaning for the Mandalorian people. The resurgence of the Mythosaur in the show’s storyline adds a compelling dimension to the ongoing narrative.
Also read: King George Bridgerton Illness: What Illness Did The Real King Have?
