Griffin / Gryphon - medieval architectural details. Relief plaques

Griffins - Architectural details.

Dimensions - Height - 10.8 cm / 4-1/4 inches

Width - 6.3 cm / 2-1/2 inches

Depth - 2.5 cm / 1 inch

This pair of griffin architectural details feature the lion and eagle versions of this mythic flying beast. Both are encapsulated in a Gothic arch with individual brick work design on the back. The eagle griffin holds a key in its right talon, while the lion as his paw over the symbol of time, represented by the hour glass.

Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone, they have been aged in an aged slate black patina.

Mythology

The griffin, also written as gryphon. It is on the island of Crete that the most ancient representations of this fabulous beast have been found in the throne room of the palace of Knossos.

It is an image that remained popular from these ancient roots, through the archaic and classical periods of ancient Greece, through the Roman empire, into the medieval and renaissance periods and still present today as featured on many coats of arms.

Composed in its' earliest representations having a lions body with the head and wings of an eagle with the forelimbs and hindquarters remaining that of a lion. This was to evolve over time to incorporate bird limbs and talons with variations of feathered lion limbs as well.

A peculiar aspect of the design are the elongated ears that are more like that of a horse than a lion and to further confuse the viewer they are often feathered.

In a medieval context they were said to mate for life and if a partner died they would wander the earth, alone and never seek another. Their claws were said to have medicinal qualities and a single feather could cure the blind.

Later still it was thought that the combination of lion and eagle depicted intelligence and strength, thus it became a feature used in coats of arms.