"The treasure which the hero fetches from the dark cavern is life: it is himself, new-born from the dark maternal cave of the unconscious where he was stranded by the introversion or regression of libido. Hence the Hindu fire-bringer is called Matarisvan, he who swells in the mother. The hero who clings to the mother is the dragon, and when the hero is reborn from the mother he becomes the conqueror of the dragon."

— Carl Jung, CW 5. Para 580

"Taken purely as a psychologem the hero represents the positive, favourable action of the unconscious, while the dragon is its negative and unfavourable actionnot birth, but a devouring; not a beneficial and constructive deed, but greedy retention and destruction."

— Carl Jung, CW 5, Para 580

Art: Cadmus slays the dragon at the fountain of Ares (Epistle of Othea, Bnf Français 606, f15) c. 1400

"The hero who sets himself the task of renewing the world and conquering death personifies the world-creating power which, brooding on itself in introversion, coiled round its own egg like a snake, threatens life with its poisonous bite, so that the living may die and be born again from the darkness."

— Carl Jung, CW 5, Para 592
Art: Lectures on Ancient Philosophy by Manly P. Hall