The Griffin by Simon O'Rourke

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From mythical creatures to legendary beasts and everything in between The lion-eagle hybrid, known as the griffin, is a powerful creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a mighty lion; the head and wings of a soaring eagle; and sometimes sharp talons for its front feet. As the king of beasts and birds were revered during the Middle Ages, the griffin was considered an especially regal and majestic creature. Since ancient times, griffins have been known to guard precious treasures and priceless possessions. In Greek and Roman texts, these creatures and the Arimaspians are linked to gold deposits in Central Asia. As Pliny the Elder wrote, "griffins were said to lay eggs in underground nests that contained gold nuggets." In medieval heraldry, the griffin evolved into a symbol of divine power for Christians, serving as a guardian of sacred things.