"The griffin is one of the world's oldest mythical beasts - it is at least 5000 years old. It was first seen in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Like many mythical beasts it is a half and half animal. In the case of the griffin it is half lion and half eagle. As it is half the king of the beasts and half the king of the birds, one might say it the king of the mythical beasts! Like the lion and the eagle it had a fierce reputation and there are many stories of it attacking humans and their horses. But in one story the table is turned on the griffins and a great hero used them for his own ends.

The famous Greek king and general Alexander the Great had taken his mighty army to India. There the army was attacked by a flock of griffins and some of his men were killed. But Alexander was impressed by the mighty beasts and came up with a clever plan. He set about capturing four griffins, using meat as a bait. Down they swooped to grab the meat, but Alexander was too clever and tied them with four chains. One end of each chain was attached to a griffin and the other to a chariot. Just above the griffins' heads Alexander placed some meat on poles. The griffins tried to fly up to catch the meat, but of course all that happened was they began to lift the chariot into the air. Alexander leaped into the chariot and began to fly upwards. Looking down he could see the land all flat beneath him and as it fell further and further away he saw the sea curled around the land like a dragon all shiny in the sunshine. Up and up he flew, until they got so high that the sun started to burn the griffins' wings and they had to drop down to earth again." 1

"There are a couple descriptions for Griffins: one is that it is part bird and part lion. Sometimes it is specified as part lion, part eagle. Occasionally, it is represented as a lion's body with an eagles head (without wings.) Griffins are frequently large, capable of carrying a man and horse, or an elephant, in its talons. The term Griffin is also used to describe a large bird (see Roc.)

The long nails on a griffin's feet are as big as oxen horns, and can be used as cups. The ribs can be used to make a bow. A male griffin that mates with a female horse produces a Hippogryph. According to Olaus Magnus, they live in the "Northern Mountains." According to Marco Polo, they are from Madagascar. Can be hostile to horses." 2

"Griffin feathers are splendid magical cores, evocative of the strength, courage, and ferocity of the beast. Half lion and half eagle, the griffin's predatory skills combine those of the two greatest hunters. This yields a spirit ideally suited to all manner of hunting and questing, whether for sustenance or more intellectual pursuits. Although some griffins are as large as African lions, the more common European variety (which at some point migrated to the Americas) is about the size of a mountain lion or bobcat combined with a golden eagle. In any case, the gryphon has a set of pointed ears and a tufted beard under its beak. Gryphons should not be confused with Hippogriffs, which are half horse and half eagle and have sometimes been domesticated as aereal mounts.
The Griffin, on the other hand, can be traced back through artistic representations to 3000 B.C. Associated with the sun, Griffins pulled the chariot of Apollo. They were guardians of the Great Goddess in Minos. Griffins also pulled the chariot of the Greek god Nemesis (Nigg, 47). Griffins also have a long association with gold, reportedly seeking and digging for gold to make their nests of that precious solar metal.

Gryphon feathers when conjured metaphysically shine with a golden-red light and an aura of pride and courage that is quite palpable. Elementally, the griffin, because it is both aquiline and feline, partakes of strong affinities with Air and Water. However, its fiery qualities of masculine action and assertion are also pronounced. In legend magical powers of healing have been attributed to the griffin's feathers, even the curing of blindness, which may be symbolic for enlightenment."3


1. http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/weird-beasts/griffin.htm
2. http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/griffin.htm
3. http://www.bardwood.com/beasts.htm