1320) and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). Griffins have appeared as characters in literary works such as Dante's Divine Comedy (c. Griffins appear regularly on coats of arms, and are used as the heraldic symbol for many European cities. Griffins have become a common fixture in art and literature, especially in Europe. Griffins in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life To the ancient Hebrews, the griffin symbolized Persia because the creature appeared frequently in Persian art. It became associated with strength and wisdom, with the head of the eagle-wisdom-leading the way for the strength of the lion's body. With its eagle's head and lion's body, the griffin represented mastery of the sky and the earth. Scythians may have even used dinosaur bones-also commonly found in this area-as evidence that the monstrous griffins really did exist. These legends may have dissuaded people who lived in nearby regions from trying to claim this gold.

It was common legend that griffins guarded the gold that could be found in the area called the Pontic-Caspian steppe. Scythians, who lived in a large region northeast of Greece, popularized myths about griffins, and may have done so to protect their own resources against invaders. The griffin was also thought to prey on those who mistreated Christians. During the Middle Ages, Christian myths often spoke of the magical powers of griffins' claws, which if made into drinking cups were said to change color when they came in contact with poison.

But the griffin later became a symbol of the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ. At first, it symbolized Satan and was thought to threaten human souls. The griffin appears in Christian art and mythology as well. They also guarded the gold that lay near the lands of the Hyperboreans (pronounced hye-pur-BOR-ee-uhnz) and the Arimaspians (pronounced air-uh-MAS-pee-uhnz), mythical peoples of the far north, and represented Nemesis (pronounced NEM-uh-sis), the goddess of vengeance.

Sometimes the griffin is shown with the tail of a serpent.Īccording to Greek mythology, griffins pulled the chariots of Zeus (pronounced ZOOS), the king of the gods, as well as his son Apollo (pronounced uh-POL-oh). A popular figure in art, it had the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle or other bird. The griffin was a creature that appeared in the mythology of Greece and the ancient Near East. Herodotus's Histories, Persian and Scythian myths

Griffin mythical creature