This diorama of mine shows some club-wielding warriors facing off against an “Ethiopian dragon” somewhere in the Sudanese semi-desert.
A little-known fact about dragons in the medieval European conception is that they were often said to live in “Ethiopia” (which back then referred to the Sudanic region of Africa rather than modern Ethiopia, which was called Abyssinia) as well as India, where they would prey on elephants. The dragon’s design, especially the fin-like wings, were inspired by 17th century engravings depicting the “Ethiopian” species.
I made this diorama’s base using two pieces of polystyrene foam board, one of which I stacked atop the other to create a plateau for the warriors to stand on. The dragon is a sculpture I made from modeling clay, and I obtained the warriors’ models from a Singaporean manufacturer called Expeditionary Force.