Overview

Griffinology is a fascinating exploration of the mythical creature's many depictions in human culture. Drawing on a wealth of historical and literary sources, this book shows how the griffin has captured the imagination of people for over 5,000 years, representing power, transcendence and even divinity. It explores the history and symbolism of griffins in art, from their appearances in ancient Egyptian magic wands to medieval bestiaries, and from medieval coats of arms to corporate logos today. The use of the griffin as a symbol of power and protection is surveyed throughout history and into modern times. Beautifully illustrated, this book should appeal to all those interested in monsters, magic and the mystical, as well as art and history.

Full Product Details

Author:   A L McClanan
Publisher:   Reaktion Books
Imprint:   Reaktion Books
ISBN:  

9781789148466

ISBN 10:   1789148464
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   13 May 2024
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Introduction 1 What is a Griffin? Early Examples from Ancient West Asia 2 Golden Griffins of Ancient Greece: From Image to Word 3 Sacred Griffins: Divine Companions, Psychopomps and Retributive Justice 4 Drinking with Griffins 5 The Art of War: Weaponizing Griffins 6 Griffins on the Move: Nomadic Visual Cultures of Central Asia and Europe 7 Guardian Griffins 8 Griffins of Distinction: Byzantine and Sasanian Palace Settings 9 Celestial Griffins: Radiance, Flight and Heavenly Companions 10 Encircling Griffins: Mapping the Influence of a Motif 11 Griffins Marking Death and Transcendence 12 Moralizing Griffins 13 Making Their Mark with Griffins: From Heraldry to Visual Branding 14 Adventures with Griffins 15 Modern Wonders: The Griffin Imagery of Carroll and Rowling Epilogue References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

Reviews

"""An excellent study that examines the griffin in its widest sense. . . . Concise as well as authoritative.""--Juliette Wood, author of ""Fantastic Creatures in Mythology and Folklore"""

Author Information

A. L. McClanan is Professor of Art History at Portland State University, Oregon. Her publications include Representations of Early Byzantine Empresses: Image and Empire (2003).

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