(Grifhus, γρύψ), in the natural history of the ancients, the name of an imaginary bird of prey, of the eagle kind. They represented it with four legs, wings, and a beak; the upper part representing an eagle, and the lower a lion: they supposed it to watch over gold mines, hidden treasures, &c. The animal was consecrated to the sun; and the ancient painters represented the chariot of the sun as drawn by griffons. M. Spanheim observes the same of those of Jupiter and Nemesis.

The griffin in Scripture is that species of the eagle called in Latin gryphus, the "oprey;" and ἀγριος, of the verb ἀγριέω, πάρα, "to break."

The griffin is frequently seen on ancient medals; and is still borne in coat-armour. Guillim blazons it rampant; alleging, that any very fierce animal may be so blazoned as well as the lion. Sylvester, Morgan, and others, use the term segreiant instead of rampant.

This is also an ornament of architecture in constant use. use among the Greeks, and was copied from them, with the other elegancies of architectural enrichments, by the Romans. See Sphinx.