Scottish / Griffin / Gryphon Celtic necklace - encircled by Scotland thistle

Scottish Griffin

Available here in an exclusive format is a Scottish Griffin amuletic necklace. It looks like an ancient talisman that captures all the might and magical power Griffin's were said to invoke. As an extra element of protection, the Griffin is encircled by the very symbol of Scotland, the thistle.

This is a faithful reproduction made of Temstone which is a limestone / quartzite composition stone that captures every tiny detail of the original design. It has an earthy, slate black / grey coloration and is threaded onto a length of plaited leather with silver clasps. (45 cm 18-12 inches approx) Extender chain allows for a further 5 cm / 2 inches if you wish.

Mythology

Thistle

The legend of the thistle as a protection symbol is linked to the battle of Largs and the departure of Norse invaders under king Haakon IV.

The invaders were in the process of an ambush against a sleeping Scottish army.

One of the barefoot Norse soldiers stood on one of the fierce prickle bushes and cried out in shrieking sudden pain thus the Scott's were awoken. The failed ambush resulted in saving the army and the land and it was all thanks to the prickles of the thistle.

Griffin

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.