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Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Greek: γρύφων, grýphōn, or γρύπων, grýpōn, early form γρύψ, grýps; Latin: gryphus) is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and an eagle’s talons as its front feet. Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of birds, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. The griffin was also thought of as king of all creatures. Griffins are known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions.In Greek and Roman texts, griffins and Arimaspians were associated with gold. Indeed, in later accounts, “griffins were said to lay eggs in burrows on the grounds and these nests contained gold nuggets”. Adrienne Mayor, a classical folklorist, proposes that the griffin was an ancient misconception derived from the fossilized remains of the Protoceratops found in gold mines in the Altai mountains of Scythia, in present-day southeastern Kazakhstan, or in Mongolia, though this hypothesis has been strongly contested as it ignores pre-Mycenaean accounts.
In antiquity it was a symbol of divine power and a guardian of the divine.
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Griffin (noun)
A mythical beast having the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.
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Griffin (noun)
A large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, supposed to be the “eagle” of the Bible. The bearded griffin is the lammergeier.
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Griffin (noun)
An English early apple.
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Griffin (noun)
A person who has just arrived from Europe.
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Griffin (noun)
A cadet newly arrived in British India: half English, half Indian.
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Griffin (noun)
A watchful guardian, especially a duenna in charge of a young woman.
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Phoenix (noun)
A mythological bird, said to be the only one of its kind, which lives for 500 years and then dies by burning to ashes on a pyre of its own making, ignited by the sun. It then arises anew from the ashes.
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Phoenix (noun)
Anything that is reborn after apparently being destroyed. Usually used as a simile.
“Astronomers believe planets might form in this dead star’s disk, like the mythical Phoenix rising up out of the ashes.”
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Phoenix (noun)
A mythological Chinese chimerical bird whose physical body symbolizes the six celestial bodies.
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Phoenix (noun)
A lepta.
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Phoenix (noun)
the state capital of Arizona; population 1,567,924 (est. 2008). Its dry climate makes it a popular winter resort.
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Phoenix (noun)
used with preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in the constellation Phoenix
“the star Delta Phoenicis”