06/06/2026
Giant Persian Griffin (516-465 BC), Persepolis, Iran.
The word "Griffin" comes from Old French word "griffon," which was used to refer to both the legendary animal and birds of prey in general. Late Latin word "Gryphus," which was derived from an incorrect spelling of ancient Greek word "Grypus," a variation of ancient Greek term (grū́ps), was source of Old French word "Grifon." Word (grū́ps) in ancient Greek literally means "curved or hooked nose," alluding to Griffin's curved beak. The phrase might also be used to refer to dragons.
Typically, Persian griffins are shown to have four legs, wings, and a beak. It has eagle talons on its forelegs, an eagle head and neck, and feathers that are typically brown but can sometimes be tawny. Its body is lion-like, and its tail is tufted. It also has large, horse-like ears and feathered eagle wings. Griffin is depicted as being extraordinarily big and powerful, with talons the size of bull horns and the pens of their feathers huge enough to shoot arrows, in "The Travels of Sir John Mandeville," a purported trip memoir published in 14th Century CE, by an unknown author. Although Griffin is typically shown as brownish in hue, other authors have described it in various ways. According to 2nd Century CE, Greek geographer Pausanias, griffins had leopard-like patches.
