griffin

Mythical monster, the supposed guardian of hidden treasure, with the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion, and the head, forelegs, and wings of an eagle, though in classical times all four legs were those of a lion.

The griffin often appears in architectural decoration and in heraldry. It is the oldest and most common of the outlandish monsters used as heraldic devices. When the head alone is borne, it can be distinguished from that of the eagle by the long tuft under the beak and the pointed ears. Belief in griffins apparently reached Europe from the East. An ancient Greek legend of their guarding gold in Scythia may have been based on the existence of gold mines in that region.

Griffin

Town and administrative headquarters of Spalding County, west-central Georgia; population (1990) 21,300. It is located 56 km/35 mi south-southeast of Atlanta. Textile and clothing plants dominate the economy. The city is a processing centre for regional fruit (pimento peppers are a major crop) and dairy farms.