![]() ![]() Griffins were often carved into churches, and in Dante’s Divine Comedy griffins were stationed at the entrance to paradise, guarding it from evildoers. Christians used the bird to reinforce Christ’s mandate against marriage, since the noble bird was said to mate for life. It was highly popular, both as a symbol and as a real creature, who could contribute to scientific advancement.īoth Christians and Muslims seized upon the griffin as a religious symbol. No medieval bestiary was complete without the griffin, king of all creatures. Meanwhile, the eastern cultures who first dreamt up the griffin spread its legend to surrounding areas, including India and Syria. Eventually, the Greeks passed the griffin along to the Romans, who spread its legend throughout Europe. Later, Greek natural historians, including Pliny the Elder, attempted to describe the griffin’s form, habitat, and behavior. Frescos from the 1400 BC show the beast guarding Greek palaces. Much later, the “king of all creatures” melded into Greek culture. The first griffins crop up as sculptures in ancient Egypt and Iran, around 3000 BC. It likes to nest in rocky areas where seams of gold can be found, and nuggets of gold can be found scattered around its nest. They were made into goblets and drinking from them was said to prolong life.įinally, the griffin has an eye for shiny objects, especially gold. Alchemists and early physicians prized the beast’s claws and feathers, which could restore sight to the blind. The griffin’s mighty body has magical properties as well. 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. Special AbilitiesĪs you can probably imagine, the griffin is a terrible enemy in a fight. Their loyalty can also be seen in their mating habits they choose only one mate for their whole lives, and if that mate dies, they spend the rest of their days alone. They are well-known for guarding treasures, sacred sites, and royal families. In some cases, the griffin’s “territory” might be a precious object, or even a living creature, rather than a piece of land. It will fight to the death to keep evil and corruption out of its territory. 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. These beasts are usually drawn with the front legs of an eagle and the back legs of a lion, but sometimes, all four legs are lion-like. Behind the wings, the feathers fade into tawny fur, and the lion’s body takes over. At their shoulders, a pair of powerful, feathered wings emerge. ![]() Two tufts of feathers spring up from their heads, representing a lion’s ears. Their heads come from the eagle they are coated in glossy feathers, usually brown or golden, and have dangerous, curved beaks. Griffins combined the best traits from the eagle (“king of the birds”) and the lion (“king of the beasts”). ![]()
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