What’s the Difference Between Griffins & Hippogriffs?

PDF download Download Article
Spoiler! One is part lion, and the other is part horse
PDF download Download Article

So, you think hippogriffs and griffins are pretty cool, huh? We couldn’t agree more! These mythological creatures sure are interesting with their legendary status and powerful strides. They come up in the books you read and the movies you watch, but how do you know which is which? We’ve laid out all the key differences between these two magical species. From fun facts to symbolic significances, we have everything you’ve ever wanted to know about hippogriffs and griffins.

Things You Should Know

  • A griffin is a legendary mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
  • A hippogriff is a mythological creature that has the body of a horse and the head and wings of an eagle.
  • Although hippogriffs are descendants of griffins, griffins are more widely known across ancient lore and myths.
Section 1 of 5:

How are hippogriffs different from griffins?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The main difference between these two mythological creatures is that one is partially lion while the other is part horse. Both griffins and hippogriffs have the head and wings of an eagle, but their bottom halves are very different.
    • Hippogriffs have the hind legs of a horse, so they have hoove’s and a tail of long hair.
    • Griffins have the backside of a lion, which gives them paws and a long tail with a puff of hair.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

Griffins Explained

PDF download Download Article
  1. These mythological creatures are a force to be reckoned with, and their image has dated all the way back to the 2nd millennium BCE. [1] Griffins are symbols of leadership, power, and wealth, making them the perfect motif for kings.
    • Griffin is also known as “griffon” or “gryphon.” [2]
    • The “griffin” derives from the Latin word grīphus , which means “an intricate or puzzling question or riddle.” [3]
    • Over the years, creatives have formed the “reverse griffin,” which has a lion's head and an eagle's body. This twist on the traditional griffin can be seen in video games like Calico .
Section 3 of 5:

Hippogriffs Explained

PDF download Download Article
  1. These mythological beings are the offspring of a griffin and horse and were first introduced in Ludovico Ariosto’s poem Orlando Furioso . Their miraculous creation is a symbol of impossibility, confusion, and hope. [4]
    • Hippogriff can also be spelled as “hippogryph.”
    • The name is a blend of the ancient Greek word for horse ( hippos ) and the Latin word for lord or prince ( griffin ).
    2. Advertisement
Section 4 of 5:

Mythological History

PDF download Download Article
  1. Believe it or not, hippogriffs aren’t as widely known as griffins, despite being descended from them. Griffins have guarded Greek treasures, pulled Apollo’s carriage, and appeared in art dated to BCE. [5] Hippogriffs, however, are more of an obscure legend that first appeared in 1516 in Ariosto’s Italian poem Orlando Furioso .
    • You may be familiar with griffins from the Greek tragedy Prometheus Bound or Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland .
    • The most famous hippogriff today is Buckbeak from the Harry Potter franchise.
Section 5 of 5:

Other Mythological Creatures

PDF download Download Article
  1. In mythology, there are many beasts with similar symbolism that also combine more than one animal. They’re all equally as epic but have a few differences.
    • Chimera has a head of a lion, the body and additional head of a goat, and the tail of a snake. [6]
    • Lamassu is a winged bull with the head of a human. [7]
    • Manticore has the head of a human, body of a lion, and scorpion’s tail.
    • Sphinx is a female monster with a human’s head and chest, lion’s body, eagle’s wings, and snake’s tail.
    • Pegasus is a winged horse that’s typically white in color.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      Simple Steps to Learn Avada Kedavra in Hogwarts Legacy
      How to
      Determine Your Harry Potter House
      Hufflepuff Traits & Characteristics
      Gryffindor Characteristics: Pros, Cons, Famous Wizards & More
      The Ultimate Harry Potter Drinking Games
      How to
      Host a Harry Potter Marathon
      How to
      Delete Your Pottermore Account
      How to
      Study Like Hermione Granger
      How to
      Contact JK Rowling
      How to
      Create Your Own Harry Potter Character
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/griffin-mythological-creature
      2. ↑ https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/jaei/article/view/8/11
      3. ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DG%3Aentry+group%3D16%3Aentry%3Dgriphus
      4. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/hippogriff
      5. ↑ https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-griffin
      6. ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=chimaera-harpers
      7. ↑ https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/collex/exhibits/discovery-collection-memory-oriental-institute-100/human-headed-winged-bull/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 34,352 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement