The hippogriff or hippogryph, is a legendary creature with the front half of an eagle and the hind half of a horse.
Roger délivrant Angélique (1824) by Louis-Édouard Rioult depicts the scene of Orlando Furioso where Ruggiero (French: Roger) rescues Angelica (French: Angélique) while riding on a hippogriff.
Hippogriff, illustration by Gustave Doré for Orlando furioso.
An animatronic Hippogriff in the nest on the left side of the lift hill of the roller coaster Flight of the Hippogriff in Orlando, Florida
Orlando furioso is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form until 1532. Orlando furioso is a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's unfinished romance Orlando innamorato. In its historical setting and characters, it shares some features with the Old French Chanson de Roland of the eleventh century, which tells of the death of Roland. The story is also a chivalric romance which stemmed from a tradition beginning in the late Middle Ages and continuing in popularity in the 16th century and well into the 17th.
Orlando Furioso title page, Valgrisi Edition, 1558
Ruggiero Rescuing Angelica by Gustave Doré
Title page of the third edition of John Harington's translation of Orlando Furioso, 1634. The first edition was 1591.
Page from 1565 edition of Orlando Furioso by Francesco Franceschi