Description
I would like for you to view these two quotes describing the Gryphon. So writes Pausanias, that "...griffins are beasts like lions, with the wings and beak of an eagle." And Ctesias writes of mountains, "...which are inhabited by the Griffons, a race of four-footed birds, about as large as wolves, having legs and claws like those of the lion..." From these descriptions we find that a Gryphon is either a winged lion with an eagle's beak, or a wolf sized four footed bird, with only the legs and claws which resemble a lion. With these and many other fanciful descriptions, it is a wonder that we can even recognise the Gryphon today! Our general portrayal of the Gryphon however, is one of a lion with an eagle's head, forefeet and wings, and straight horse-like ears. A Gryphon with a serpent's tail, by Helen RichEarlier though, it was hard for the Gryphon to keep a concrete shape when no one had actually "seen" the beast. Thus, the Gryphon has been attributed with the head of a falcon, hawk and eagle, the forefeet of a lion and eagle, and the hind-parts of a panther, dog, and lion. It has had the regular tail of a lion, a lion's tail with feathers at the end, and a serpent's tail. It has had sharp horse-like ears and floppy spainel-like ears. It is shown sometimes with a tuft of beard under it's beak, a lion's mane covering it's neck, and sometimes it did not even have wings. The beak has been sharp and soft, often with teeth or tusks. From it's forehead have risen two horns and a decorative knob. It was also written at various times that Gryphons had red crests, dark blue necks, black bodies, white wings and firey eyes.
The joining of eagle and lion is a natural thought process, since we already associate them both with the regality of Birds and Beasts. Once you stop to realise this, you will find that there are many references to eagles and lions together, and thus Gryphons. One such example is the representations of St. Mark as a lion and St. John as an eagle from the 6th Century Book of Kells, a celebrated calligraphical work of the four Gospels. Writes Ben Mackworth-Praed on the four Evangelical Symbols from the Book, "The Man is for St. Matthew, in recognition of his emphasis on the human side of the Saviour. The Lion represents St. Mark, who stressed Christ's power and royalty. The Ox or calf stands for St. Luke, a sacraficial victim in token of his emphasis on Christ's priesthood. The Eagle is for St. John, the Evangelist who soars to Heaven..." It should also be noted that all of the evangelical symbols are winged, thus making St. Mark (a winged lion) alone very gryphonesque. Also, French archaeologist Adolphe Didron described the Pope thusly in his 1854 work, Manuel d'iconographie chrelienne grecque et latine, "The pope, as pontiff or eagle, is borne aloft to the throne of God to receive his commands, and as lion or king walks on earth with strength and might." A more modern example is in the lyrics to the song "The Last Unicorn" (the theme to the movie) sung by America.
"When the last eagle cries,
from the last crumbling mountain,
When the last lion roars,
at the last dusty fountain..."
And ever wonder just why Gryphons have straight ears? Gryphons are a combination of lion and eagle, yet why do their ears look like those of horses, the Gryphon's favorite meal? Writer Michael D. Winkle has found the answer. According to Winkle and the book he consulted, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, the Gryphon's ears stems from the Gryphon's appearence in the Near East. "The ancient Syrians and Babylonians created the gryphon as we know it, as well as lion-demons, snake-gryphons, bull-men, and other chimerical monsters. Most of these creatures were depicted with long, pointed ears -- specifically, the ears of the Mesopotamian wild ass or donkey." Click here to read the rest of Winkle's article, and be sure to visit the rest of his Eyrie, including his Gryphon short stories!
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