At the heart of the myths and legends surrounding St. George lies the story of an early Christian martyr persecuted by the Roman Empire around the third century AD. But England is only one country to have adopted this soldier saint as their patron. Others, including Germany, Hungary, and Portugal, claim him as their own, and there are churches dedicated to him in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Greece. His victory against the dragon can be interpreted as representing the bravery of an individual Christian or the eternal battle been good and evil. There are also clear parallels between his battle and those of pre-Christian heroes such as Perseus and Beowulf, he is identified with the Islamic hero Al Khidr, and he has been closely linked to the Green Man of Pre-Christian Myth.