Griffins, Gryphons and their ilk

Griffins can be simply eagle-headed men or women, but more usually are lion-bodied and can have an eagle's wings as well as equine ears and - sometimes - even a serpent's tail. Not a critter to mess with, it's as much a Persian as a Greek invention and has been around for a few thousand (let's say 3 thousand) years at least. It's a powerful combination, eagle-eyed, talon-clawed, soaring high or standing on either the 4 paws of a lion or on man's powerful legs. A Hippogriff is a horse crossed with a Griffin.