• OVERVIEW
    A bird-like species of animals, dwelling in the Rhipaean mountains, between the Hyperboreans and the one-eyed Arimaspians, and guarding the gold of the north. The Arismaspians mounted on horseback, and attempted to steal the gold, and hence arose the hostility between the horse and the griffin. The body of the griffin was that of a lion, while the head and wings were those of an eagle. This monstrous conception suggests that the origin of the belief in griffins must be looked for in the east, where it seems to have been very ancient.

    A tribe of creatures that guarded rich deposits of gold in the mountains of Skythia (Scythia) in north-eastern Europe.

    ETYMOLOGY
    From Greek gryps (genitive: grypos) "a griffin or dragon," literally "curved, hook-nosed" (opposed to simos).

    STORY OF THE GRIFFINS
    Originally, Zeus ordered the creation of these beasts by Haephestus so that they could pull the chariots of Zeus and Apollo. At their greatest point, they were seen as the hounds of Zeus. They did their job well and took pride in their service.

    Later, the griffons became free and wild. However, their noble heritage led them to be protectors of the Greek people and it's vast riches.

    An ancient poets tell of a tribe of one-eyed people known as the Arimaspi. These people dwelt in northern parts of Scythia in the foothills of the legendary Riphean Mountains, said to be situated between the cave of Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, and the Hyperborean region of the world. The Arimaspi were reputed to steal the gold from the griffins, resulting in battles which were often depicted in works of art. The Arimaspi rode horses in their attacks on the griffins, and from this evolved the enmity of the griffin for horses. They were often depicted attacking and killing them.

    However, as the griffins could not be beaten in those mountainous regions where they had the advantage of flight, the tensions between the two parties simmered. In fact, on rare occasions, griffins even mated with horses, and their offspring were known as a  hippogryph. These had the foreparts of an eagle and the hind parts of a horse, and were said to symbolise love as the horse and the griffin were natural enemies.