A griffin (also spelled gryphon) is a legendary creature with the head, wings, and talons of an eagle combined with the body and hind legs of a lion. Imagine the king of beasts merged with the king of birds: that's what makes the griffin such a powerful symbol in ancient stories and art.

Griffins appear in myths and legends going back thousands of years, from ancient Persia to Greece to medieval Europe. People carved them into buildings, painted them on shields, and told stories about them guarding treasure or pulling the chariots of gods. The griffin represented strength, courage, and vigilance because it combined the eagle's sharp vision and flight with the lion's power and bravery.

You'll still see griffins today as decorations on buildings, in family coats of arms, and in fantasy stories and games. The creature remains popular because it captures something people have always admired: the idea of combining different strengths to create something even more magnificent. When you see a griffin statue guarding a doorway or drawn on a banner, it's carrying forward a symbol that's meant something to humans for more than 3,000 years.