The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle with its talons on the front legs.
Sassanid bowl with sitting griffin, gilted silver, from Iran.
Restored griffin fresco. —In the Throne Room, Palace of Knossos, Crete, original from Bronze Age
Shirdal on the silver cup, Iranian Art.
Bronze figure of a griffin, Roman period (AD 50–270)
A legendary creature is a type of fantasy entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore, but may be featured in historical accounts before modernity.
Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch
In classical mythology, the Minotaur was defeated by the hero Theseus.
Medieval bestiaries included mythical animals like the monoceros (above) alongside real animals like the bear.
Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam