GRYPHON
With the body of a lion and the head, talons, and wings of an eagle, the gryphon was said to protect the Scythian steppes (modern Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan) from anyone who attempted to steal the gold and precious stones that were abundant there. As a result, the gryphon (also known as “griffin”) was commonly featured on gold coins in Scythia. Because a gryphon takes a single mate for life, it has become a symbol of fidelity. Visually, this creature presents a unique challenge in that it combines two very different animals into a unique whole.
Hippogryphs Although the horse is the natural prey of the gryphon, there are rare instances ...
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