Griffins

Lore & Background

Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of the birds, by the Middle Ages the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. Since classical antiquity, griffins were known for guarding treasures and priceless possessions. In Greek and Roman texts, the griffins and the Arimaspians were associated with gold deposits of Central Asia. The earliest classical writings were derived from Aristeas (7th cent. BC) and preserved by Herodotus and Aeschylus (mid 5th century BC), but the physical descriptions are not very explicit and from Herodotus to Aelian imply that griffins were creatures seen and known through artworks. Even though they are sharp-beaked, their being likened to 'unbarking hounds of Zeus' has led to the speculation they were seen as wingless.

Reader's Guide

The griffin's significance lies in its enduring role as a symbol of power and guardianship across cultures. Pliny the Elder (1st century) first stated explicitly that griffins were winged and long eared, while Apollonius of Tyana wrote that griffins did not have true bird wings but membranous webbed feet for short-distance flight. Writers after Aelian (3rd century AD) added little new material except the later idea that griffins deposited agate stone among the eggs in their nest. In the Christian era, Isidore of Seville (7th century AD) wrote that griffins were a great enemy of horses, a notion possibly developed from the tradition that horseback-riding Arimaspians raided griffin gold. Its form—with bird-like forelegs and talons in most statuary, but sometimes with lion's forelegs—and its distinctive features such as top-knobs, tendrils, and warts between the eyes, reflect a complex iconographic history blending Oriental and Greek influences.

Did You Know?

• Pliny the Elder (1st century) was the first to state explicitly that griffins were winged and long eared.
• Apollonius of Tyana wrote that griffins had membranous webbed feet, not true bird wings, allowing only short-distance flight.
• Isidore of Seville (7th century AD) wrote that griffins were a great enemy of horses.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

A common misconception is that griffins were always depicted with wings from the earliest classical writings. However, the physical descriptions from Herodotus to Aelian are not very explicit, and the comparison to "unbarking hounds of Zeus" suggests they may have originally been seen as wingless; it was not until Pliny the Elder in the 1st century that griffins were explicitly stated to have wings. Another misconception is that griffins were a universal Greek invention, whereas the earliest classical accounts—from Aristeas in the 7th century BC—associate them specifically with the gold deposits of Central Asia.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The griffin endures because it embodies a powerful fusion of the lion, king of beasts, and the eagle, king of birds, symbolizing unmatched strength and vigilance. Its ancient role as a guardian of treasure speaks to a timeless human fascination with protection, mystery, and the distant, exotic lands—from Central Asia to Ethiopia—where these creatures were said to roam.