The Dawn Treader was a Narnian ship in the fictional world of The Chronicles of Narnia. It was built by King Caspian X and is featured primarily in the book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It was the first Narnian ship to be built since the Golden Age and was commissioned by King Caspian, so that he might sail beyond the Lone Islands and on to the unknown Eastern Ocean to seek the Seven Great Lords – friends of his father who had disappeared during the reign of Miraz as Lord Protector of Narnia after he had murdered King Caspian IX.
The ship is captained by the Lord Drinian, friend of Caspian X. Also on board are Rhince, the first mate, Rynelf, a loyal sailor, Reepicheep, the captain of all talking mice, and around twenty other men, mostly of Galmian origin. They are joined shortly after setting sail from Narnia by Lucy Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie and Eustace Scrubb who have managed to enter the Narnian world through a painting of a ship in Eustace's home.
The Dawn Treader – which is described in great detail early in the book – is stated as having a gilded bow that resembles a dragon's head and wings and is its primary feature. Many artists have adopted this design in their illustrations so that the figurehead resembles the neck and head of a dragon. In the BBC adaptation they designed the ship so that the wings of the dragon ran along the port and starboard sides. Her hull is painted a rich green, with smooth, flowing lines from bow to stern. A single mast extends from the center of the main deck, and holds a single, large, square, purple sail.