The Griffin, also known as the Eagle‑Lion, is a quintessential composite creature in Western mythology, seamlessly blending the attributes of both eagles and lions: typically featuring a hawk’s head, wings, and forelimbs, paired with a lion’s torso,

Its earliest known depictions date back to around 3000 BCE in Mesopotamian and Sumerian art—such as the Anzu bird—and its iconic form took shape during ancient Greece. Writers like Herodotus recorded that griffins guarded gold in the Scythian lands, clashing with the one‑eyed Arimaspi people. In the Middle Ages, the griffin became a common heraldic motif, symbolizing royal authority, courage, and divine protection. In modern times, it has frequently appeared in fantasy literature, video games, and film and television.