Griffin-Ryan

__//**The Griffin (Gryphon)**//__

//__**Appearance**__// The griffin is a creature with the body of a lion and wings and head of an eagle. It has pointed ears resembling a donkey or a horse and feathers cover its head, neck and chest. The rest of the body is covered a light brown fur like the fur on a lion.

Aelian said the wings of griffins were white and their necks were varied in color with blue feathers. The griffin's most memorable feature is it's talons. It's claws are as big as oxen horns and were extremelly valuable for they were thought to change color in the presence of poison, which made them useful in cups of important people.

//__**Origin**__// The origin of the Griffin is uncertain. Speculations of the griffin's true origin vary widely. They were supposedly originally known in Egypt before 3300 BC and possibly prior, but other ideas of their origin are:


 * Pliny believed griffins came from Northern Russia.
 * Aeschylus belived griffins came from Ethiopia
 * Bulfinch believed they came from India.
 * Ancient Elamites (modern day Iran) used griffin symbol in their architecture.

__**Importance**__

The griffin has the best qualities of the kings of the air and sky: the speed, flight, and vision of the eagle and the strength, courage, and majesty of the lion. In ancient times, Griffins were symbols of guardianship, protection, and justice. By the 19th centrury, Griffins were viewed as gentle and even harmless creatures.

Gryphons were a knowledged for their nests; they found gold in the mountains and made their nests from it. This made their eggs very tempting to hunters and robbers; therefore, Gryphons kept constant guard over their nests.

Gryphons had some sort of instinct which allowed them know where buried treasure was. They guarded the treasures they found the best they could, keeping robbers far away. Some treasures the griffins guarded were the Holy Grain, Tree of Life, knowledge, and the roads to salvation.

The griffin's dual nature (half lion half eagle) led it to be associated with Jesus Christ. The griffin's eagle half signified Christ's divinity and the lion half represented Christ's humanity. During the Middle Ages, griffins were symbols of Christ's resurrection. The strength of the lion and the wisdom of the eagle combined in the griffin symbolized the strength and wisdom of God. Griffins also signified Christ because they were knows adversary of serpents and basilisks, both of which were viewes as satanic demons.



**__Mythological Stories__**

According to the story of Alexander the Great, Alexander captured a pair of griffins and starved them for three days. After the three days, Alexander tied them to his throne and, tempted them with roast beef dangling above their heads. The beef worked, the Griffins flew throughout the sky and toward the heavens for seven days. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Alexander, who's main goal was to see God, would succeed if he had not been stopped by an angel, who asked him why he wanted to "see the things of heaven when he did not yet understand the things of earth." Alexander flew back to earth. Representations of Alexander's ascension were placed in French and Italian cathedrals during the 12th century.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Apollo rode a griffin and according to greeks. //__**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Modern Day References and literature. **__// <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">//"You might belong in Gryffindor,// <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">//Where dwell the brave at heart,// <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">//Their daring, nerve and chivalry// <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">//Set Gryffindors apart//"
 * <span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Harry Potter series make a large reference to the Griffin in the wizarding house "Gryffindor."The "gryffin" in the popular Hogwarts house refers to the half-lion half-eagle magical beast the Griffin. The Hogwarts house even uses a lion as its symbol. The qualities the house of Gryffindor searches for are bravery, chivalry, and strong willed, paralleling qualities of the Griffin.

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 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Griffin also shows up in the well known book "The Marvelous Land of Oz," the second book of the __Wizard of Oz__ series, written by Lyman Frank Baum. In this story an old witch named Mombi is running away from Glinda, the good witch, and transforming into various objects attempting to escape. Glinda is extremelly skilled at witchcraft and is always able to find Mombi no matter whatshe turns into. As her last hope, Mombi turns herself into the majestic Griffin and is able to escape with ease. Unfortunatelly, Griffin's are not god's and do get tired; therefore, Mombi became too exhausted too continue and was in the end captured by Glinda.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Once strapped in, the loading platform floor drops and a voice recording says, "Now, prepare to enjoy the power and speed of the mythical //Griffon!"//
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Busch Garden's ride the Griffon.

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 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Alice in Wonderland

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">In Dante Alighieri's //Divine Comedy//, Beatrice takes off into the Heavens to begin Dante's journey through paradise on a flying Griffin.

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