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The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: γρύψ, romanized: grýps; Classical Latin: grȳps or grȳpus; Late and Medieval Latin: gryphes, grypho etc.; Old French: griffon) is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle with its talons on the front legs.
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Learn about the griffin, a composite creature with a lion's body and a bird's head, from ancient myths and art. Find out its origin, appearance, and symbolism in different cultures and times.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 27, 2014 · Learn about the griffin, a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body and legs of a lion. Discover its origins in ancient Greece, Persia, and Egypt, and its possible connection to a dinosaur fossil.
- Dhwty
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- What Is A Griffin?
- Characteristics
- Cultural Representation
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A griffin (or gryphon) is a chimeric creature, part eagle and part lion. With incredible strength, unfailing protective instincts, and a zero-tolerance policy against evil, it is the superhero of mythological creatures. No villain can mess with the griffin!
Physical Description
Griffins combined the best traits from the eagle (“king of the birds”) and the lion (“king of the beasts”). Their heads come from the eagle; they are coated in glossy feathers, usually brown or golden, and have dangerous, curved beaks. Two tufts of feathers spring up from their heads, representing a lion’s ears. At their shoulders, a pair of powerful, feathered wings emerge. Behind the wings, the feathers fade into tawny fur, and the lion’s body takes over. These beasts are usually drawn with...
Personality
The griffin is hailed as “the king of all creatures,” and it is has the right personality for its title: noble, fearsome, and above all else, protective. It will fight to the death to keep evil and corruption out of its territory. In some cases, the griffin’s “territory” might be a precious object, or even a living creature, rather than a piece of land. They are well-known for guarding treasures, sacred sites, and royal families. Their loyalty can also be seen in their mating habits; they cho...
Special Abilities
As you can probably imagine, the griffin is a terrible enemy in a fight. It has all the strength of a lion, and it can launch aerial attacks! Ancient historians claimed that this creature preyed on elephants and giraffes—so it made short work of human intruders. The griffin’s mighty body has magical properties as well. Alchemists and early physicians prized the beast’s claws and feathers, which could restore sight to the blind. Griffin eggs were also valuable. They were made into goblets and...
Origin
The first griffins crop up as sculptures in ancient Egypt and Iran, around 3000 BC. Much later, the “king of all creatures” melded into Greek culture. Frescos from the 1400 BC show the beast guarding Greek palaces. Later, Greek natural historians, including Pliny the Elder, attempted to describe the griffin’s form, habitat, and behavior. Eventually, the Greeks passed the griffin along to the Romans, who spread its legend throughout Europe. Meanwhile, the eastern cultures who first dreamt up t...
Medieval Lore
No medieval bestiary was complete without the griffin, king of all creatures. It was highly popular, both as a symbol and as a real creature, who could contribute to scientific advancement. Both Christians and Muslims seized upon the griffin as a religious symbol. Christians used the bird to reinforce Christ’s mandate against marriage, since the noble bird was said to mate for life. Griffins were often carved into churches, and in Dante’s Divine Comedygriffins were stationed at the entrance t...
Modern Appearances
Today, the griffin has been surrendered to the realm of fantasy, but it is still a popular figure there! The Percy JacksonI series, the Spiderwick Chronicles, and the Harry Potter series all welcome griffins into their cast of characters. Games like World of Warcraft and Dungeons and Dragonsalso allow players to test their skills against the mighty griffin!
Learn about the griffin, a chimeric beast with an eagle's head and a lion's body, in mythology and culture. Discover its origin, personality, abilities, and appearances in art and literature.
The Griffin (Ancient Greek: Γρύψ Grū́ps) is a legendary creature from Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Persian, Minoan, Greek, and Roman mythology that has the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Since the lion was considered the "King of the Beasts" and the eagle the "King of the Air...
The griffin (also called gryphon, gryphen, griffon, griffen, and gryphin), is a legendary creature. It has the head, front legs, and wings of an eagle. The rest of the body looks like a part of a lion . In the past griffin was a symbol of strength and dexterity. It often looked after a treasure .
