Who was the griffin in Greek mythology?
The griffin was a mythical creature in Greek mythology. It had a lion’s body and an eagle’s head and wings. Griffins were known to pull the chariots of Apollo and Nemesis.
What do griffins symbolize?
The griffins were a symbol of security, prestige, and wealth. In Greek tradition, griffins were thought to have nests filled with treasure.
Where were griffins found?
Griffins lived in ancient Scythia, specifically around the steppes. They frequently quarreled with the one-eyed Arimaspians, a tribe of one-eyed people that lived near the Riphean Mountains.
When was the griffin created?
The griffin myth began 5,000 years ago and entered the Greek narrative as early as the 8th century BCE.
Why were griffins created?
Griffins were created as legendary guardians loyal to a single king or royal dynasty. They were used to dissuade treasure hunters and thieves from robbing the nobility’s coffers. The griffin’s likeness has been used in architecture as a protection ward for centuries.[1]
How are griffins born?
No one knows how griffins are born. Since they are a hybrid mythical creature with the features of a lion and an eagle, it is safe to say that griffins are not traditionally “born.” Contemporary media—such as the video game Ark—have interpreted griffins as laying eggs.[2]
Griffins’ Origin and Creation
The griffin was a pan-cultural mythical creature, appearing in the legends of several ancient civilizations. The earliest record of the griffin comes from ancient Egypt in the third millennium BCE.
Because Griffins are believed to have originated in Egypt, it is assumed that their mythological existence spread across the Mediterranean Sea through commerce.
Other suggested origins of the griffin include traditional mythologies of the Levant, ancient Persia, Assyria, and Elam.
Ancient Egypt
The griffin’s origin in Ancient Egypt seems to center around the Nile River Valley, where it was associated with the sky and sun god, Horus. The falcon-headed god occasionally appeared with a lion’s body in temple art, as seen in the Temple of Horus at Edfu.[3]
As a creature associated with Horus, the griffin became synonymous with protection and strength. Its likeness would adorn the walls of temples, palaces, and sacred grounds.
The Egyptian griffin would manifest in several ways, occasionally adopting a more Sphinx-like appearance with a human head. These varied appearances would be accompanied by different titles that suggest notable traits of the griffin, such as wit, might, or an appetite for violence.
In its appearance as a lion with a falcon’s head and wings, the Egyptian griffin would frequently be compared to the pharaoh.[4]
Persian Influence
Known as shirdal (lion-eagle) in Persian mythology (also homa and simurgh), griffins were incredibly popular during the Achaemenid Empire. Surviving architecture in Persepolis reflects the popularity of the griffin in sixth-century Persia, as they appear frequently throughout the former capital’s ruins.[5]
In Persian culture, as in Egyptian, griffins were seen as protectors, but Persians revered them also as guardians of wealth. They served kings and gods and acted as mediators between humanity and the divine.
Thus, their prevalence in Persepolis in the form of statues and frescoes sent a subtle message to the ancient Persians: Persepolis was safe and prospering. Moreover, since the griffin was associated with the Achaemenid dynasty, the prosperity was attributed to the royal family’s influence.
Greek Adoption
The griffin appeared in Greek art and historical texts as early as the Bronze Age (3300–1200 BCE). It was often depicted as a guardian of the riches of the gods or of powerful rulers. This Greek portrait of the griffin as a protector of treasures and sacred places was particularly prominent in art and literature.[6]
As a figure in Greek myth, the griffin was often connected to various deities. For instance, griffins were frequently associated with Apollo. They were also associated with the goddess of retribution, Nemesis, and came to represent aspects of Helios as the god of the sun.
While in service to Apollo, the griffins pulled his chariots and emphasized the god’s protective characteristics; the relationship between Apollo and the griffin was stressed in the cult of Hyperborean Apollo. When pictured pulling the chariot of Nemesis, the griffins displayed fierceness as the ultimate protectors.
Meanwhile, the adoption of griffins representing Helios may be borrowed from other cultures, where the griffin’s image would have been synonymous with the respective preeminent solar deity.
Other Cultural Depictions
The griffin made cultural appearances in a multitude of other ancient regions and their civilizations. It turns out this mythical creature was good at making waves! While we have established that the earliest known reference to the griffin was from Predynastic Egypt, other cultures soon followed.
Besides appearing in ancient Persia and Greece during the Bronze Age, the griffin was an established mythical feature in the Levant and Assyria by the second millennium BCE and in the bygone kingdom of Elam by the Neo-Elamite Period (1000 BCE–539 BCE).[7]
Physical evidence of the griffin in these cultures is restricted to items found among burial goods and in architectural remains. Thus, the griffin’s role as a guardian and protector is clearly established within these archaic societies.
Several ancient scholars also described the presence of the griffin’s image in locations outside of North Africa and the Mediterranean, though these records almost always suggest the griffin as being quintessentially Greek in nature.
Creation of the Myth
The creation of the griffin is fascinating and surprisingly simple. It was inspired by real animals, a hybrid form that came from early human imagination. Individually, the lion and eagle both held immense significance across various cultures. Together, they became the mark of nobility and guardians of worldly treasures.
Alternatively, historian Adrienne Mayor in The First Fossil Hunters (2000) suggested that the concept of the griffin came from Protoceratops fossils discovered by Scythians.[8] This supposed origin of the griffin’s myth has caused a lot of debate in the decades since its debut.
While the historical community hasn’t reached a complete consensus, many agree that the myth—whatever its roots—spread to other civilizations in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Central Asia through trade.[9]
Physical Appearance and Features
The griffin’s iconic appearance combines the features of an eagle and a lion. With an eagle’s head, wide wings, and a lion’s powerful frame, the griffin was king of the land and sky. In this form, the majestic beast embodied physical might and security.
By uniting the Heavens and the Earth in a single being, the griffin made the ideal image for kings and nobility in ancient and medieval times.
The griffin has had a handful of alternative looks in works of art from ancient cultures. Some include a serpent’s tail or talons in place of those a lion would feature. Despite minor variations, the griffin is consistently shown with a deadly beak and impressive wings.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Griffins held incredible historical and cultural significance for centuries across several continents and civilizations. From the myths of ancient Greece, Egypt, and Persia, to the courts of medieval Europe, the griffin’s legacy survived through its symbolism.
North Africa
The identity of the griffin has strong ties to North Africa, and while ancient Egypt seems like an obvious place to look for the griffin, other surrounding cultures adopted the griffin as well.
The people of ancient Sumer and Aethiopia embraced griffin imagery in their art and architecture, with themes shining through in mythology that featured the god Anzû.
The Mediterranean and Middle East
It is around the Mediterranean that the griffin really spread its wings. Across the areas between southern Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East, the griffin was not just a singular cultural symbol but a shared motif that united different ancient cultures.
In the Greco-Roman Period (332 BCE–642 CE), the griffin was popular iconography, especially in coinage, architecture, and art.
Ancient Persians depicted their version of the griffin as the mythical bird homa or shirdal in art and architecture.
The griffin was also used in Hittite art, often depicting griffins on temple reliefs and royal seals. Throughout the region now encompassing Turkey, it was a symbol of kingly authority, protection, and the divine.
Medieval Europe
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the griffin retained its significance, especially in heraldry and religious art. In Christian iconography, the griffin came to symbolize the union of the divine and the earthly. This symbolism continued in the coats of arms and emblems of medieval knights and kings, especially in the Byzantine and Western European traditions.
Role in Greek Mythology
In Greek mythology, the griffin was a powerful and revered creature, often associated with protection, strength, divinity, and sovereignty. Its chimeric appearance symbolized a blend of earthly power (the lion) and divine authority (the eagle).
While not as prominent as other mythological creatures, griffins were linked to multiple gods. Occasionally called the “Hounds of Zeus,” (a title also held by the fearsome harpies), the griffins were sometimes seen as symbols of justice and divine order. In most myths, they are life-long enemies of the Arimaspi, who once tried to steal the gold from their nests.
Symbolism and Meaning
The symbolism behind the griffin is fairly unified. They were a mix of the “King of the Beasts” and the “King of the Birds,” making them the ultimate symbol of power, authority, and protection. Since these fabulous creatures have both lion and eagle physical traits, they also represent the unification of the Heavens and Earth.
Legends and Myths Involving the Griffin
Surviving records of myths involving the griffin come from ancient Persia and Greece.
In Greek tradition, the griffins and the one-eyed Arimaspians were in frequent conflict after the Arimaspi tried to get the better of the guardians of gold in the legendary Riphean Mountains. Otherwise, they were associated with the gods Apollo, Nemesis, Helios, and Zeus in art and later scholarly records.
Persian myths retained the griffin as a mark of divine and kingly power and as a guardian of the worlds of the gods and man. They were keepers of wealth and markers of prosperity. By the time of the Achaemenid Empire, the griffin became synonymous with the royal dynasty.
Griffin in Art and Literature
Throughout both ancient and medieval periods, griffins consistently symbolized a combination of protection, power, wealth, and majesty. Consequently, griffins were commonly used as symbols in royal iconography, religious art, and literature, signifying both physical might and heavenly guardianship.
Griffins appeared in ancient Egyptian art as temple reliefs to Horus, thereby emphasizing the deity’s protective nature. In Persia, the griffins became synonymous with the might and divine authority of the Achaemenid dynasty, and its visage dotted the streets of its capital, Persepolis. Meanwhile, the Greek griffin became associated with the might of numerous gods in the pantheon, and as dedicated guardians of treasure.
In medieval Christianity, their dual nature made them a powerful metaphor for Christ, while in chivalric literature, they embodied the virtues of knights and the protection of sacred quests.[10] The griffin thus evolved from a guardian of treasure and divine order in ancient cultures to a symbol of religious and knightly virtue in the medieval world.
Griffin’s Modern Depictions
Nowadays, the griffin is a hallmark of the fantasy genre. They are featured in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and, while we never see a griffin in the film adaptation, we do see its cousin, the hippogriff. They also appear in the revitalized tabletop roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (and they have a pretty hefty stat block).
Wrapping Up the Griffin’s Story
The griffin’s fantastical tale is an ancient one. They were a symbol of power, of guardianship, and of divine rule. Since ancient times, the griffin guarded the riches of gods and kings. In more modern times, they are one of many ancient mythical hybrid creatures to be reimagined by contemporary creatives.
Although it is safe to say the griffin doesn’t exist outside of mythological narratives, the power and majesty it represented continues to inspire people around the world.
References
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston. n.d. Architectural panel with a griffin. Accessed December 14, 2024. MFA Boston. https://collections.mfa.org/objects/151301.
- “Royal Griffin.” n.d. Fandom. Accessed December 14, 2024. https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Royal_Griffin.
- The University of Chicago. n.d. “Temple of Horus.” The University of Chicago Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures West Asia & North Africa. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/projects/tell-edfu/temple-horus.
- Mashhot, Ahmed, and Ahmed Keshka. 2022. “The Significance and Symbolism of Grifon in Ancient Egypt till the Greco-Roman Periods.” Journal of the Faculty of Archaeology 12 (2022): 151-172. 10.21608/jarch.2022.212061.
- Hunt, Patrick. 2008. “Achaemenid Persian Griffin Capital at Persepolis.” Archaeology no. 81(3):299–319. https://doi.org/10.1525/jsah.2022.81.3.299
- Tehran Times. 2024. “Discoveries challenge myths about griffins.” https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/500512/Discoveries-challenge-myths-about-griffins.
- Potts, D.T. 2015. The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. 2nd ed. N.p.: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316148501.
- Mayor, Adrienne. 2011. The First Fossil Hunters: Dinosaurs, Mammoths, and Myth in Greek and Roman Times. N.p.: Princeton University Press.
- Grablevsky, Anatoly, and Mary Jaharis. 2024. “Gold, Griffins, and Greeks: Scythian Art and Cultural Interactions in the Black Sea.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ggsa/hd_ggsa.htm.
- Kosloski, Philip. 2017. “How the Griffin Became a Symbol of Christ.” Aleteia. https://aleteia.org/2017/08/14/how-the-griffin-became-a-symbol-of-christ.