The hybrid between a lion and an eagle is one of the mightiest of all creatures. Even though the powerful griffin is commonly known, it can be very difficult to understand from where this beast originated. The griffin’s appearance has changed overtime due to the different cultures it inhabited. For this reason, it has become very difficult to recognize a griffin’s figure in ancient artifacts. Since many different cultures had their own stories that pertained to this creature, the image of the griffin has been manipulated through time. Some cultures have the beast depicted as more of an eagle than a lion, and others have it described oppositely. Also for this reason, different societies viewed griffins in different ways. Some cultures worshiped them as gods, whereas others feared them as if they were monsters. Due to the different stories that were altered to fit the beliefs and values of a certain culture, it has become difficult to decide if the griffin ever resided in Egypt. It is also difficult to decide whether the beast was feared or worshiped in the Ancient Egyptian Culture, or if it even had any importance to the Egyptian Culture at all. (Nigg, 43)

The griffin is one of the mightiest of all beasts due to its genetic combination of the king of land and the king of air: the lion and the eagle. Deriving from the Greek word gryps (meaning “curved nose”), the griffin is one of the oldest beasts of which historians know (Nigg, 43). What is unknown, however, is whether or not the griffin appeared in the Ancient Egyptian culture. If it did, how was it depicted and viewed by the people of that time?

In many different sources, the griffin has been associated with guarding gold. This is due to the findings of gold nuggets within their nests (Mayor, 40). It is possible that the griffins only began to protect gold since they habitually protected their nests (where their offspring hatch and reside), and since gold was commonly found in their nests.

The Cretan griffins were commonly known for protecting kings and pulling the chariots of goddesses. However the Greek griffins were often associated with gods and goddesses (for example, Apollo or Athena), or were even depicted attacking other animals on vase paintings (Niggs, 44). As for Egyptian griffins, there is still some confusion as to whether or not they were actually found in the Egyptian desert during the ancient time period. Knowing that griffins are natural protectors of kings and gold, one can wonder if griffins were found protecting Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs since pharaohs are often thought of to be wearers of jewels and gold and are considered the kings of Egypt.

Some very early depictions of the griffin are thought to have appeared in Egyptian tomb paintings and Mesopotamian cylinder seals (Nigg, 44). It is interesting that the griffin appeared in tomb paintings since tomb painting was popular during the Ancient Egyptian time. It is also interesting that griffins are depicted in Mesopotamian cylinder seals because Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) was not very far from the land of Ancient Egypt (Nigg, 44). It is thought that this panel was from the early 6th and 7th centuries, which is just after the Ancient Egyptian time frame. This piece was found in the Coptic culture, possibly within a home. The Coptic culture came directly after the Ancient Egyptian time period. It is interesting to see that the two griffins in the panel have a different appearance from the other griffins presented in this article. There is some question on the material of which this artifact is made, since the panel looks strikingly similar to a cylinder seal. Mesopotamian cylinder seals were typically made from clay (Nigg, 44). This is interesting since the panel shown (above) is claimed to be made from wood. If this piece is in fact a wooden panel from a Coptic house, and not mistaken for a Mesopotamian cylinder seal, it could perhaps be alluded that griffins were worshiped enough to be put on the inside of this particular home. This would show that the griffin had some importance to the Egyptian culture, however it is still unsure if they had any importance to Ancient Egypt.