Post by FangedSmile on Sept 11, 2007 18:38:53 GMT -6
Griffins-
With the head, wings and claws of an eagle and the body of a lion the Griffin is a formidable beast, and has been a staple of fantasy literature for centuries. Sometimes depicted with a snake for a tale, it is easy to distinguish the sexes – male Griffins are usually pictured with spikes running along their backs, while only the females are winged. A male Griffin is also called an “Alse” or a “Keythrong”.
Their colour is black, mixed with white, grey and dark brown. Blue and red Griffins have been sighted, but these creatures are apparently rare. Even more unique is the multiple coloured Griffin, described as "calico in colour" and usually female. A Griffin living in the wild may live for 800 years; a Griffin living in captivity can survive for 1,200 years! Fresh meat is the diet of choice, and although they enjoy the hunt they rarely kill simply for the sake of killing. To get an idea of the Griffin’s size consider this comparison – a horse is to a Griffin what a chicken is to a man… Griffins are very adaptable creatures and if no meat is available will eat seeds and berries. They are also immune to many poisonous plants.
At this point I want to mention a creature called the Hippogriff, the product of a liaison between a male Griffin and a mare. The Hippogriff is a unique creature because horses are among the griffin’s favourite prey! The rarity of the Hippogriff meant it became a medieval symbol of love and impossibility. This intelligent creature could fly at great speeds, and became a popular pet for knights and sorcerers, being easier to tame than a Griffin. It was also easy to feed; being an omnivore it would eat either meat or plants. Poet Arnold Sundgaard describes this magical creature in his poem “The Hippogriff”:
When Mare and Griffin meet and mate
Their offspring share a curious fate.
One half is Horse with hooves and tail,
The rest is Eagle, claws and nail.
As a Horse it likes to graze
In summer meadows doused in haze,
Yet as an Eagle it can fly
Above the clouds where dreams drift by.
With such a Beast I am enthralled,
The Hippogriff this beast is called.
A Griffin’s personality represents its physical appearance; lions are traditionally considered “king of the beasts”, while the eagle is revered as “king among birds”. Both creatures are noble, majestic and powerful, which is how most myths and legends portray the Griffin. Their speed is legendary and they are superb fliers with sharp, all-seeing and piercing eyes. Variations on the spelling of their names include: Gryphon and Griffon. Although the Griffin’s origins date back to ancient mythology it has become a feature of Christianity and its image has been sculpted onto churches.
While nobody knows exactly where the Griffin came from it is generally believed to be native to India. Griffins had a thorough knowledge of buried treasure and could find gold in the mountains. They built their nests of gold, which naturally attracted hunters. This forced the Griffins to defend their homes, and they would deal with the hunters ruthlessly, killing and devouring the men and their unfortunate horses. This is why in ancient times the Griffin’s image was used to decorate the shields of riders going into battle – it was believed horses greatly fear Griffins, and would panic at the sight of the creature’s image on a shield. Some Griffins – particularly those without young - prefer to live underground, creating large and spacious dens. They will also make their homes in fallen trees; their excellent hearing and eyesight means they become aware of imminent danger long before it’s too late to protect themselves.
The first acknowledged writing about the Griffin dates to the 7th century BC, attributed to Aristeas, an ancient Greek writer. Aristeas called the Griffin the guard of the gold of North Eastern Europe, and the deadly adversary of the one-eyed Arimaspes, a tribe from the region of Scythie. The Griffin is a symbol of the Greek god Apollo and is associated with the goddesses Nemesis and Athena. The poet Aeschylus called Griffins “The Hounds of Zeus”, describing them as “ever vigilant, tireless and dedicated to guarding fiercely the gold of the North”. Griffins are said to have pulled the chariots of Pharoahs and legendary figures like Apollo, Nemesis and Alexander the Great. Their image adorns Egyptian tombs and appears in several hieroglyphic languages; it features as a seal on several Mesopotamian cylinders. The Minoan civilisation of Crete feature Griffins as royal animals and guardians of the throne room.
Griffins were supposedly monogamous, and so dedicated to their partners that should a mate die it would live out the rest of its life alone rather than seek out new companion. One legend claims a Griffin lays an egg of agate or sapphire in her golden nest. Another states a female Griffin finds a large, sheltered cave with a very narrow entrance where she lays three large ostrich-sized eggs. The Griffin’s talon was supposed to have medicinal properties, while a feather from the creature could restore sight to the blind.
Griffin eggs hatch after 11 months, with the infants weighing about 30 kilograms. Generally they leave home at the age of ten years, particularly if the mother is a wanderer and wants to travel. Some Griffins wait until they are 50 years old before leaving a pride of Griffins. Griffins are considered fully mature at the age of 200 years.
Here are some uses of Griffins in literature:
Bullet In Lewis Carrol’s “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” a Griffin takes Alice to listen to the Mock Turtle’s story.
Bullet Bill Peet’s “The Pinkish Purplish Bluish Egg” tells of a dove’s experiences as she raises a Griffin she hatches from a strange egg
Bullet In James Christianson’s “Voyage of the Basset” Cassandra is saved from marauding trolls by a Griffin.
Bullet C S Lewis “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” numbers Griffins among the beings making up Aslan’s army and followers.
Bullet In Joe Ekaitis’ “Collinsfort Village” a gentlemanly and kind Griffin resides in a suburb in Colorado.
Bullet Geoff Ryman’s “The Warrior Who Carried Life” features a giant white dragon called “The beast Who Talks to God” as a main character.
Bullet J K Rowling’s "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkarban introduces readers to a wonderful hippogriff called "Buckbeak", a touchy yet extremely loyal creature.
www.writing.com/main/view_item/user_id/zwisis
With the head, wings and claws of an eagle and the body of a lion the Griffin is a formidable beast, and has been a staple of fantasy literature for centuries. Sometimes depicted with a snake for a tale, it is easy to distinguish the sexes – male Griffins are usually pictured with spikes running along their backs, while only the females are winged. A male Griffin is also called an “Alse” or a “Keythrong”.
Their colour is black, mixed with white, grey and dark brown. Blue and red Griffins have been sighted, but these creatures are apparently rare. Even more unique is the multiple coloured Griffin, described as "calico in colour" and usually female. A Griffin living in the wild may live for 800 years; a Griffin living in captivity can survive for 1,200 years! Fresh meat is the diet of choice, and although they enjoy the hunt they rarely kill simply for the sake of killing. To get an idea of the Griffin’s size consider this comparison – a horse is to a Griffin what a chicken is to a man… Griffins are very adaptable creatures and if no meat is available will eat seeds and berries. They are also immune to many poisonous plants.
At this point I want to mention a creature called the Hippogriff, the product of a liaison between a male Griffin and a mare. The Hippogriff is a unique creature because horses are among the griffin’s favourite prey! The rarity of the Hippogriff meant it became a medieval symbol of love and impossibility. This intelligent creature could fly at great speeds, and became a popular pet for knights and sorcerers, being easier to tame than a Griffin. It was also easy to feed; being an omnivore it would eat either meat or plants. Poet Arnold Sundgaard describes this magical creature in his poem “The Hippogriff”:
When Mare and Griffin meet and mate
Their offspring share a curious fate.
One half is Horse with hooves and tail,
The rest is Eagle, claws and nail.
As a Horse it likes to graze
In summer meadows doused in haze,
Yet as an Eagle it can fly
Above the clouds where dreams drift by.
With such a Beast I am enthralled,
The Hippogriff this beast is called.
A Griffin’s personality represents its physical appearance; lions are traditionally considered “king of the beasts”, while the eagle is revered as “king among birds”. Both creatures are noble, majestic and powerful, which is how most myths and legends portray the Griffin. Their speed is legendary and they are superb fliers with sharp, all-seeing and piercing eyes. Variations on the spelling of their names include: Gryphon and Griffon. Although the Griffin’s origins date back to ancient mythology it has become a feature of Christianity and its image has been sculpted onto churches.
While nobody knows exactly where the Griffin came from it is generally believed to be native to India. Griffins had a thorough knowledge of buried treasure and could find gold in the mountains. They built their nests of gold, which naturally attracted hunters. This forced the Griffins to defend their homes, and they would deal with the hunters ruthlessly, killing and devouring the men and their unfortunate horses. This is why in ancient times the Griffin’s image was used to decorate the shields of riders going into battle – it was believed horses greatly fear Griffins, and would panic at the sight of the creature’s image on a shield. Some Griffins – particularly those without young - prefer to live underground, creating large and spacious dens. They will also make their homes in fallen trees; their excellent hearing and eyesight means they become aware of imminent danger long before it’s too late to protect themselves.
The first acknowledged writing about the Griffin dates to the 7th century BC, attributed to Aristeas, an ancient Greek writer. Aristeas called the Griffin the guard of the gold of North Eastern Europe, and the deadly adversary of the one-eyed Arimaspes, a tribe from the region of Scythie. The Griffin is a symbol of the Greek god Apollo and is associated with the goddesses Nemesis and Athena. The poet Aeschylus called Griffins “The Hounds of Zeus”, describing them as “ever vigilant, tireless and dedicated to guarding fiercely the gold of the North”. Griffins are said to have pulled the chariots of Pharoahs and legendary figures like Apollo, Nemesis and Alexander the Great. Their image adorns Egyptian tombs and appears in several hieroglyphic languages; it features as a seal on several Mesopotamian cylinders. The Minoan civilisation of Crete feature Griffins as royal animals and guardians of the throne room.
Griffins were supposedly monogamous, and so dedicated to their partners that should a mate die it would live out the rest of its life alone rather than seek out new companion. One legend claims a Griffin lays an egg of agate or sapphire in her golden nest. Another states a female Griffin finds a large, sheltered cave with a very narrow entrance where she lays three large ostrich-sized eggs. The Griffin’s talon was supposed to have medicinal properties, while a feather from the creature could restore sight to the blind.
Griffin eggs hatch after 11 months, with the infants weighing about 30 kilograms. Generally they leave home at the age of ten years, particularly if the mother is a wanderer and wants to travel. Some Griffins wait until they are 50 years old before leaving a pride of Griffins. Griffins are considered fully mature at the age of 200 years.
Here are some uses of Griffins in literature:
Bullet In Lewis Carrol’s “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” a Griffin takes Alice to listen to the Mock Turtle’s story.
Bullet Bill Peet’s “The Pinkish Purplish Bluish Egg” tells of a dove’s experiences as she raises a Griffin she hatches from a strange egg
Bullet In James Christianson’s “Voyage of the Basset” Cassandra is saved from marauding trolls by a Griffin.
Bullet C S Lewis “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” numbers Griffins among the beings making up Aslan’s army and followers.
Bullet In Joe Ekaitis’ “Collinsfort Village” a gentlemanly and kind Griffin resides in a suburb in Colorado.
Bullet Geoff Ryman’s “The Warrior Who Carried Life” features a giant white dragon called “The beast Who Talks to God” as a main character.
Bullet J K Rowling’s "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkarban introduces readers to a wonderful hippogriff called "Buckbeak", a touchy yet extremely loyal creature.
www.writing.com/main/view_item/user_id/zwisis