Mythologis
Griffins: The Complete Guide to the Griffin in Myth, Legend and Heraldry

Mythical Creatures Mythology

Griffins: The Complete Guide to the Griffin in Myth, Legend and Heraldry

The Lion-Eagle Guardian of the Ancient World

The complete guide to the griffin: the lion-eagle of the ancient Near East and Greece, the guardian of gold, the beast of medieval bestiaries, and its long life as a symbol in heraldry and art.

170 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Ancient Near East, Greece and heraldry
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01Lion and Eagle: The King of Monsters
  2. 02The Griffin Before the Myth: Guardian of the Ancient East
  3. 03Griffins in Egypt, Persia and the Aegean
  4. 04The Gold-Guarding Griffins of the Greeks
  5. 05The Griffin and the One-Eyed Arimaspians
  6. 06The Griffin in the Roman World
  7. 07The Beast of the Bestiary
  8. 08A Christian Symbol: The Griffin in the Church
  9. 09The Griffin in Heraldry
  10. 10The Hippogriff and the Griffin's Relatives
  11. 11The Griffin in Modern Imagination

About this book

About this Mythical Creatures mythology guide

Half lion, half eagle, the griffin guarded the gold of the far north and the treasure of kings. This is the complete guide to the griffin, from ancient palace art to the coat of arms.

Half lion, half eagle, the griffin joins the king of beasts to the king of birds, and the result is one of the oldest and most majestic monsters of the ancient world. It appears on the palace walls of the Near East before it ever has a story, a guardian set to watch over kings and treasure; the Greeks heard of it from the edge of the world, where it guarded the gold of the far north and waged endless war on a one-eyed people who tried to steal it.

This is the complete guide to the griffin. Its origins in the art of Egypt, Persia and the Aegean; the Greek tradition of the gold-guarding griffins of Scythia and their war with the Arimaspians; the griffin of the medieval bestiary, fierce enough to carry off a horse and rider; its strange role as a Christian symbol; and its enduring afterlife on coats of arms, where it still stands for vigilance and courage.

The book follows the griffin from palace art to bestiary to heraldry, drawing on the classical authors, the bestiaries and the historians of art, and every chapter cites its sources.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • Why the griffin appears in ancient art long before it has a story
  • The gold-guarding griffins of the far north in Greek tradition
  • Their endless war with the one-eyed Arimaspians
  • The fierce griffin of the medieval bestiary
  • How the griffin became a Christian symbol
  • Why the griffin still stands on coats of arms today

Mythical Creatures mythology book at a glance

TraditionMythical Creatures mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length170 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Questions about the Mythical Creatures mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is the griffin from Greek mythology?

Greek writers gave the griffin its most famous stories, the gold-guarding beasts of the far north, but the creature is older than Greece. The book starts with its origins in the art of the ancient Near East and follows it all the way to modern heraldry.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It draws on Herodotus, Aristeas, Ctesias, Aelian and Pliny among the classical authors, the medieval bestiaries, and the evidence of ancient art, with references to the standard editions.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 170 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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