The Colchian dragon isn't the only dragon protecting treasure in Greek mythology. A couple more examples: - [Ladon][1] guarded the golden apples in the garden of the Hesperides, - [Python][2] guarded the [centre of the earth][3] at Delphi, and - Ares assigned a [dragon][4] to protect his sacred spring near Thebes (look up the myths of [Cadmus][5]). However, if you are looking for a dragon protecting gold specifically, then I think the more characteristic examples from European folklore are: - [Fafnir][6], the dwarf-turned-dragon in the [Völsunga][7], and - The [firedrake][8] in [Beowulf][9]. In fact, unless I'm horribly mistaken, the latter one is the inspiration behind [Smaug][10], the gold-hoarding dragon in J. R. R. Tolkien's *The Hobbit*. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladon_(mythology) [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(mythology) [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_mundi [4]: http://www.theoi.com/Ther/DrakonIsmenios.html [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmus [6]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fafnir [7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%B6lsunga_saga [8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dragon_(Beowulf) [9]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf [10]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smaug%5C