The griffin is a mythological beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. These beasts guarded gold deposits on northern and eastern mountains. The griffins had one eyed neighbors, the Skythian Arimasp tribe. The griffins battled them for riches. Griffins were in Greek art, medieval bestiaries, and heraldic devices.
Picture: http://www.pantheon.org/areas/gallery/folklore/folklore/griffin.gif
