A very normal regular griffon. The bird portion is a kind of turaco, but I can't remember which

-2652

(Thundersnap asks):✨What type of creature did you turn Lavender into? Mira looks like a wingless dragon, Nutmeg is a griffon (I think), but I don't recognize what Lavender is.

Oh, I guess some creatures in my Equestria are different from others, she's a Foxkin. Specifically an adolescent Foxkin. They share a common ancestor with diamond dogs. They're typically bipedal when full grown, but they stay quadruped for a while before they fully mature. ✨

I now have the rest of cast done (well, all but Draxum; have to figure that out..)

First we have the design for April O’Neil. Initially, like in the first picture, I just took the existing design in the show and made her a (Earth) pony, but it didn’t seem quite… right. not that there was anything wrong with it, but I wanted to make it seem like she’s an actual character from the MLP world and more distinguishable from the ROTTMNT show. So I decided to lean more into the hazel color scheme (since I knew her pony name would be “Hazel something”) and went with the results of the second picture. Named Hazel Prose. Has green and brown colors for her palette and has an open journal being written in as her cutie mark. Similarities between human and pony are her two curly pigtails, her glasses and jacket. 

Next is Hamato Yoshi/Lou Jitsu and Splinter designs. Instantly, I knew I wanted the human design to be translated into an earth pony, since when he was a movie star, he did more hand to hand combat, and that could be kicks and such as a horse. For the most part, the pony design is just a copy-paste of his human form, with a slight change to some of the colors as well as making his coat similar to Sunburst from MLP (I wanted to use that kind of coat design for a while, and now I got the chance). With his mutated form, I actually decided he should be a wingless “hippogriff”. Before hippogriffs were officially introduced into the franchise, there was one MLP analysis YouTuber that had his OC as his interpretation of a hippogriff. I decided to take inspiration from that and used it for pony Splinter, named Akabane (which if the name origin site is accurate, means “red feather” in Japanese). I imagined that in the MLP version, while Lou Jitsu, called “Flawless Star”, was taking the newly mutated baby creatures with him, one of the DNA canisters “Draxum” had broken open and fell on him, spilling griffon DNA on him. It only covered half and, since he wasn’t a Pegasus to begin with, didn’t get any wings, just the front half of a griffon.

Finally, my personal favorite, Foot Recruit, AKA Cassandra “Casey” Jones. For now, I’m keeping her pony name unknown, but know that like Hazel, she is named after her coloring. Because of that, I wanted there to be some purples and greys to her design and futz around with a few color palettes until I got something I liked. Mostly, I tried to make sure it matched alright with her uniform colors. Mane was a little hard to figure out. I didn’t want her to have the buzz cut because I didn’t think that look good on a pony, so I tried to go for a really short mane style. A few attempts later, I got what’s featured here, with a few other angles so I know how it lays on her head. made her a Pegasus because it seems right (Casey’s also pretty light on her feet, so making her a Pegasus just seemed like the right choice). And because she is part of the Foot Clan in ROTTMNT but she’s a pony, she’s part of the Hoof Clan, with the clan’s symbol featured in the picture. I did think briefly about doing something extra and edgy but honestly the design is meant to be unassuming. Because who would think that something as simple as a horseshoe would be related to something evil and bent on world domination. And of course it’s upside down.

ohhhh, snow drake since we can have flying battles!!!!

Unfortunately these drakes are the wingless variety, they are very good at burrowing if that makes up for it. But I have been considering an owl-headed griffon or pegasus as options, so flying combat will still be an option.

NovelAI really can't do Griffons. All attempts have resulted in utterly cursed beings.

There are two primary NovelAI Diffusion models. One was trained primarily to recognize tags and terms via anime art (this is the model I've been using for character art). The other is trained using furry art. Both anime artists and furry artists are good at tagging artwork, which is how the folks at NovelAI taught their model how to recognize the use of tags and how they relate to images.

Neither model is any good at generating art of Griffons, Dragons, etc.

The first hurdle to clear is whether to spell the tag 'Griffin,' 'Griffon,' or 'Gryphon.' Using 'Gryphon' got me closer to the desired results than the others. 'Griffin' and 'Griffon' resulted in wingless creatures that looked kind of like shaggy dogs. After selecting the correct spelling for that part of the prompt, the Anime-Trained model still has extreme difficulty generating the correct number of limbs or the correct shaped beak.

Here are the best results from the "NovelAI Anime Diffusion Full" model, out of around 100 images:

The furry-trained model had slightly better results, but it was still pretty bad. It resulted in fewer creations with not-enough limbs, but more that had too many instead. On top of that, the way it drew leonine hind legs and the eyes was... suspicious. Even once I added and blocked tags to get rid of the "come-hither eyes" and the overly-detailed, overly-shiny legs, the model still spit out creations that often had Disney-Face syndrome and looked too anthropomorphized in the face area. Most were also drawn with proportions that made the Griffon look like it was the size of a small dog, rather than the size of an elephant or large truck.

Here are the best results I got from the "NovelAI Diffusion Furry" model, out of around 100 images:

In conclusion, I don't think the AI is ready to make art of D&D Monsters like Griffons quite yet. Valentia will have to wait awhile before her art can be replaced with something original.

One thing I do like for Warhammer Fantasy and 40k models, is when they have motto scrolls on areas that wouldn't normally have motto scrolls. Like on the barding of giant wingless griffons.

This crippled and blind griffin is still a fearsome beast that should not be messed with. 

Finished at last. I have no idea how long I worked on this thing. Bonus-picture of him with a friend. 

Done from Greenstuff & painted with citadel-paints (and some random crap for the base). Used a random book that looked nice for the background. 

furbies are clearly wingless griffons and are therefore mythical beasts

Mythika’s creatures from African and Arabian myths.

**THE CREATURES FROM AFRICAN MYTHS**

Guiafairo appear as giant bats which have the blood of fae. Their most noticeable ability is blinking and teleporting at rapid speed, which makes them almost immune to ranged attacks. They use their blinking to get into rooms that are locked so they can feast on the fear of their mostly elven and humanoid prey, as bogeys they only feed on their preys fear, but to create fear they sometimes also tear into the flesh.

@rt: https://www.deviantart.com/saeedramez

Adze (African) – Fae (Vermin / Vampire) - Giant vampiric insects with bioluminescence to lure prey close.

Aigamuxa (African) – Humanoid (Giant / Cursed) - Blind desert giants whose eyes are located underneath their feet.

Asanbosam (African) – Fae (Troll / Vampire) - Trolls living in trees, their hands and feet look like hooks.

Chemosit (African) – Aberration (Alien / Psychic) - Parasitic aliens located within the bodies of bears, these tentacle-like parasites eventually break free from within their hosts.

Chipfalamfula (African) – Aberration (Fish / Summoner) - Enormous fresh-water fish which keep their ravenous young inside their maws.

Eloko (African) – Humanoid (Dwarf / Mounted) * - Jungle dwarves which often stand on each other’s shoulders to appear bigger.

Gbahali (African) – Beast (Reptilian) - Much like Kaprosuchus, hunting from ambush in the mountains.

Grootslang (African) – Beast (Reptilian / Chimerae) - Giant behemoths combining the features of both elephants and snakes.

Guiafairo (African) – Fae (Bogey) - Giant fae bats which have the power to teleport or blink.

Guiamala (African) – Beast - Multi-horned Giraffe-like creatures with aggressive tempers.

Intulo (African) – Humanoid (Beastman / Reptilian / Mounted) * - Gecko-like humanoids.

Jba Fofi (African) – Beast (Vermin) - Giant wolf spiders.

Kishi (African) – Demon - Demons of pride and vanity, an ugly demonic face is located on the back of their head.

Kongamato (African) – Beast (Reptilian / Drake) - Mythika’s very own Pterosaur, much like a Pteranodon.

Makalala (African) – Demon (Avian) - Much like demonic Secretary Birds, with very long stilt-like legs.

Mbielu-Mbielu (African) – Plant (Reptilian / Parasite) * - Parasitic algae and moss which grows on the plates of stegosaurs and which turns them hostile and protective of the environment.  

Migas (African) – Aberration - Swamp-based octopi with over twenty tentacles, some even live in trees.

Mngwa (African) – Undead (Tulpa / Cursed) - Undead spectral black lions which only exist and appear during the night.

Mokele-Mbembe (African) – Beast (Reptilian) - Much like a hostile and aggressive Amargasaurus.

Ngoubou (African) – Beast (Reptilian) - Much like a demonic-looking variant of the Styracosaurus, very hostile and aggressive.

Nguma-Monene (African) – Beast (Reptilian / Drake) - Much like a Mosasaurus on steroids, with sharp needle-like spines covering the entire length of its body.

Ninki Nanka (African) – Beast (Reptilian / Drake) - Tanystropheus-like creatures but much more dangerous.

Nyuvwira (African) – Dragon (Reptilian) - Eight-headed Hydra-like dragon serpents, which spit lighting and control gravity around them.

Olitiau (African) – Beast (Vampire) - Giant vampire bats.

Popobawa (African) – Demon (Psychic) - Bat like demons with a single eye which spread chaos and destruction.

Rompo (African) – Beast (Chimerae) - Strange chimerae which control the bones within their bodies, forcing them through their skin to create protective spikes.

Taotie, Khodumodumo (African) – Demon - Extremely large and bloated variants of the Taotie, their cavernous maw can engulf an entire caravan.

Umdhlebi (African) – Plant - Carnivorous plants with three bulb-like heads, very poisonous.

Ya-Te-Veo (African) – Plant (Alien) - Strange alien trees with tentacle-like branches which can walk on their roots.

Yehwe Zogbanu (African) – Fae (Troll) - Giant jungle trolls with giant horns growing all over their backs and heads, they use them to impale their dead future meal on.

Zombie (African) – Undead (Human) - Yeah, the house, kitchen garden variant.

============================

**THE CREATURES FROM MIDDLE EASTERN AND SIMILAR MYTHS**

Apaosha are one of the more vile and dangerous species of Kelpies. They embody the element earth. When they trick victims to ride them they trap them by turning their backs into quicksand, then they slowly turn them into the dust that forms the Apaosha’s very manes and tails. Apaosha are minions (and sometimes mounts) of the Horseman of Famine. 

@rt: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3o9qm2

Acheri (Hindu) – Angel (Cursed) - Small gothic angel girls which look cute but which bring diseases through their arrows, much like evil Cupid.

Aeshma (Persian) – Demon (Summoner) - Much like D&D’s Balor and LOTR’s Balrog, the commanders of most other demons.

Aghash (Persian) – Demon - Beholder-like demons of many eyes, demons of Envy, sight, spying and wrath.

Ahl At-Trab (Arabian) – Elemental (Spirit) * - Sand elementals, living sandstorms.

Amphisbaena, Ouroboros (Egyptian) – Dragon (Reptilian) - Dragon-snakes with heads on both ends of their bodies, one evil black head and one gentle white head.

Apaosha (Arabian) – Demon (Shifter) - The desert and earth variant of the Kelpie, it’s rider-victims will slowly turn to dust.

Asdeev (Persian) – Dragon (Shifter / Reptilian) - Beautiful female white dragons with mist and fog based powers.

Aten (Egyptian) – Elemental (Spirit) - Very powerful light elementals, want to be worshipped like Gods.

Baykok, Airi (Hindu) – Undead (Human / Cursed / Summoner) - More powerful Baykok variants, they hunt for even stronger creatures with their two skeleton dogs at their side.

Caspilly (Persian) – Beast (Fish / Unicorn) - Giant lionfish with very poisonous spikes and a single unicorn-like horn.

Devalpa (Arabian) – Aberration (Parasite / Cursed / Mounted) - Sneaky tricksters with tentacle-like legs which want to ride other creatures and turn them into slaves.

Druj Nasu (Persian) – Demon (Vermin) - Fly demons of pollution, corruption and filth, minions of Beelzebub.

Dulhath (Arabian) – Fae (Troll / Mounted) - Very lazy trolls who ride around on Gallimimus-like creatures.

Dybbuk (Jewish) – Demon (Spirit / Parasite / Psychic) - Demonic spirits which want to possess other creatures, they appear as floating masks, who wears the mask is controlled by the Dybbuk.

Fulad-Zereh (Persian) – Construct (Spirit / Tsukumogami / Cursed) - Animated suits of armor, with the spirit of its former wearer still haunting it.

Gbahali, Petsuchos (Egyptian) – Undead (Reptilian / Cursed) - Ritualistic changed Gbahali, mummified and in possession of light beam attacks and cursed fangs.

Ghul (Arabian) – Undead (Shifter / Genie / Summoner) - Undead spirits of the Genies, controlling dust, sand, darkness and using the bones of their victims as weapons.

Girtablilu (Arabian) – Humanoid (Beastman / Vermin / Centauric) - Half monstrous humanoid, and half scorpion.

Hieracosphinx (Egyptian) – Beast (Avian / Chimerae) * - One of Sets favorite pets, looking much like evil black Griffons.

Hypnalis (Egyptian) – Beast (Reptilian / Mara) - Giant white cobra’s which can kill creatures from within their dreams.

Ichneumon (Egyptian) – Beast - Mongoose like creatures which are expert dragon slayers.

Ifrit (Arabian) – Elemental (Shifter / Genie / Summoner) - The genies of fire, almost demonic in nature and able to control fire.

Jidra (Arabian) – Plant - Much like D&D’s shambling Mounds.

Jokkho (Bengal) – Construct (Spirit / Cursed) - Animated treasures, mostly golden coins, cursed by the greedy former owner.

Juggernaut (Hindu) – Construct (Spirit) - Giant self-mobile war-machines created by the Gods of warfare.

Karkadann (Persian) – Beast (Unicorn) - Aggressive, arrogant desert unicorns with enormous horns.

Karkinos, Saratan (Arabian) – Beast (Vermin) - Very ancient and large Karkinos crabs grow small landscapes on their shells.

Khepri (Egyptian) – Beast (Vermin) - Giant bombardier beetles which shoot different elemental bombs at their enemies, named after a dead Goddess.

Manticore (Persian) – Beast (Vermin / Chimerae) * - Mythika has both winged and wingless variants.

Miraj (Arabian) – Beast (Unicorn) - Agile, deadly and hungry for blood and flesh, these killer unicorn-bunnies are expert killers.

Mummy (Egyptian) – Undead (Human / Cursed / Summoner) * - Cursed and resurrected people of importance which gained a lot of deadly curses at their command.

Penchapechi (Bengal) – Fae (Avian / Spirit) - Giant fae owls which can become incorporeal at will, they never make a sound.

Rakshasa (Hindu) – Demon (Shifter) - The ultimate shapeshifter, taking any humanoid form they remember, evil variant of Doppelgangers.

Raktabija (Hindu) – Humanoid (Vampire / Human / Summoner) - Humans who practice blood-magic, controlling their own blood and turning it into a deadly weapon.

Redjal Marja (Arabian) – Elemental (Shifter / Genie / Summoner) - Very fat and ugly green, genies of polluted water, very lazy and filthy.

Roc (Arabian) – Beast  (Avian) - Enormous elephant and whale hunting monstrous vultures.

Salawa (Egyptian) – Beast * - Another one of Set’s favorite pets, they have bizarre magical powers over darkness and sand.

Scarabs (Egyptian) – Beast (Vermin / Parasite / Swarm) - Swarms of flesh-eating carrion beetles that devour anything within seconds.

Serpopard (Egyptian) – Beast (Reptilian / Chimerae) * - The last of Set’s favorite pets, combining serpent with leopard.

Shadhawar (Persian) – Fae (Unicorn / Summoner) - Antelope-like unicorns which create magical melodies with their horns which change the moods of listeners.

Stymphalian, Asipatra (Hindu) – Construct (Avian) - Stymphalian birds which are created with adamantium instead of bronze.

Urmahlullu (Arabian) – Humanoid (Beastman / Centauric) * - Also known as Liontaurs, half humanoid half lion.

Vish Kanya (Hindu) – Humanoid (Human) - Evil amazons which use poison to their advantage and which are immune to most poisons.

Vish Kanya, Saapin (Hindu) – Humanoid (Human / Summoner / Psychic) - Mostly leaders among the Vish Kanya, these poisonous human women can animate and summon their tattoos.

Zabraq (Arabian) – Dragon (Reptilian) - Desert drakes looking like moloch-reptiles which use their own acid blood as weapon.

Zalambur (Arabian) – Elemental (Shifter / Genie / Summoner) - Very greedy, golden-skinned genies, with power over air and metal.

OKAY SO WING AU

ive had a week to think about this and

someone suggested the turaco bird for izuku and you know what YOU’RE RIGHT, that does match the color scheme. however for this au i want izuku to be wingless as well as quirkless because i have PLANS so. 

bakugo - black kite (a kind of raptor in australia which lights fires to scare out prey, as recced to me by my best friend)

tenya - peregrine falcon (one of the world’s fastest birds, also real big bird, as recced by purrquaza)

ochako - ruppell’s griffon vulture (first of all it’s a vulture, and listen. i ship ochako and being a ruthless badass. also, ruppell’s griffon vulture is one of the highest flying birds in the world)

todoroki - gyrfalcon (winter birds, largest of the falcon family, TAKE A LOOK AT THEM WINGS AND TELL ME THEY DON’T SUIT TODOROKI. my best friend was kind enough to rec the arctic birds) 

momo - BARN OWL (also recced to me by purrquaza, i know owls are dumb as shit but AESTHETIC. also owls are associated with intelligence so it’s a human thing as well) 

aizawa - bluejay (blue jays are fuckin MEAN BIRDS, take it from me. also they’re really smart. i know it’s showy but i like the idea of aizawa being a bluejay)

present mic - cockatoo (for obvious reasons)(don’t @ me)

all might - golden eagle (because eagles are BIG and the golden eagle is one of the biggest and strongest in north america)

inko - fruit pigeon (purrquaza DAMN YOU ARE CORRECT THEY’RE PRETTY BIRDS)

Griffon who just heard the treat bag open

-2679

Ah thanks for the surnames , about the Thunderbird lusus: would it be alright to have an eagle with lighting powers/theme so long as I don’t call the lusus a thunderbird? My troll is based on the eagle constellation (which is a symbol of Zeus I believe) and I figured a cowboy with a lighting theme would be fitting , if the lusus is still walking on thin ice then , what other lusus possibilities could work?

I think that’d definitely be preferable! (Though golds don’t have winged lusii usually, I’m gonna give it a theme pass here so I don’t have the troll in front of me) Just creating a generally lightning themed eagle would be alright, especially because of the Zeus link- Eagles did carry Zeus’ and Jupiter’s lightning-bolts in Greco-Roman mythology. 

If you wanted other eagle options, Hræsvelgr is another one! 

If you wanted something more heavily fantasy, you could use the Griffon, and could even make it wingless if you cared about that rule. Harpies are associated with storms, so you could use one of those too (think in the style of Aurthour).

-CD

Here we go, the mythical creatures list. It’s by no means complete and it was just a bunch of creatures I compiled from the Wikipedia list. I avoided creatures with names (Like Sleipnir) as well as creatures with human characteristics and spirits. I’m open to suggestions too >v>

Alce –  A wingless eagle-headed lion or griffon Alicanto –  A nocturnal bird with glowing, metallic wings and luminous eyes that feeds on gold and silver Alicorn –  A winged unicorn Al-mi'raj – A territorial and aggressive island-dwelling rabbit with a long horn like that of a unicorn. Alphyn – A creature with the body of a lion or tiger, scaly underbelly and forelegs of an eagle or dragon, and a lion-like tail. Amarok – A giant wolf that hunts alone. Amphiptere – A large winged snake or legless dragon. Amphisbaena – A venomous snake with a head at each end, sometimes with short bird-like feet and wings. Angha – A creature with the head of a dog, wings and tail of a peacock, and body of a lion Axex – A creature with the head and wings of a falcon and the body of a lion. Barghest – A monstrous black dog with large teeth Bashe – A massive snake that fed on elephants. Bunyip – A large water-dwelling creature that might looks similar to a walrus Bukavac – Six-legged snake-like monster that dwelled in lakes to jump out on passersby and startle them Cadejo – A large dog with deer or cow-like hooves that is said to be capable of inducing insanity Calygreyhound �� A creature with the head of a wildcat, body of an antelope, front legs and sometimes wings of an eagle, and hind legs of an ox. Camahueto – A calf or bull with a small horn on it's forehead. The horn is said to have many uses in medicine. Carbuncle – A fox or dog-like creature with a jewel on it's forehead. Catoblepas – A creature with the head of a pig and the scaled body of a buffalo Cerastes - Extremely flexible, venomous snake with either ram-like horns or spikes along its back. Chamrosh – A creature with the hind legs of a dog and the upper body of a bird. Chickcharney – A tropical island dwelling 3 foot tall barn owl-like creature with feathers and fur. Dipsa – A minute, extremely venomous snake. Dobhar-chú  – A creature resembling a mix between a dog and an otter. Catalan Drac – A dragon with a lion or bull face. Ethiopian Pegasus – A winged horse with two long horns that curve backwards. Gagana – An island-dwelling bird with an iron beak and copper talons. Gandaberunda – A two-headed bird with immense magical strength. Haetae – A dog-like creature with a lion's mane and the ability to control time. Hercinia – A bird with glowing feathers. Hieracosphinx – Falcon-headed sphinx Hodag – A creature with thick fur, large fangs, spines, and claws, a frog-like head, and a lizard-like tail. Impundulu – A vampiric bird that often serves as a witch's familiar and is capable of summoning lightning and thunder. Indus worm – A massive white, carnivorous worm that lived in the Indus River. Inkanyamba – A lake-dwelling snake with a horse's head. Isonade – A large shark-like monster with skin covered in barbs Aspidochelone  – An island-sized whale or sea turtle Keelut – A hairless, carrion-eating dog with fur only on it's feet Keythong – A griffon with spines or horns instead of wings Khalkotauroi – A bull with bronze hooves Kye-ryong – A creature with a chicken's body, a slimmer neck and legs, and a lizard's tail. It resembles a cockatrice. Lavellan – A giant, highly poisonous and noxious water-dwelling rat. Leokampoi – A lion with the tail of a fish, similar to a hippocampus Mapinguari – A large sloth or ape-like creature with one eye and a second mouth on it's belly Minokawa – A massive six-winged and feathered dragon capable of eclipsing the sun due to it's immense size. Monocerus – A creature with the body of a horse, cloven hooves, a short tail, a stag-like head and a single horn Muscaliet – A creature with a hare's body, a squirrel's tail, and a boar's tusks that exuded an extreme amount of body heat. Musimon – A sheep-goat creature with four horns. Myrmecoleon – A creature with the body of an ant and the head of a lion. Ophiotaurus – A creature with the upper body of a bull and the lower body of a snake. Opinicus – A griffon with a longer neck, a short tail, and a lion's fore and back limbs. Piasa – A cat-like dragon with feathered wings and a stag's antlers Pixiu – A powerful winged lion that eats gold, silver, and jewels. Pyrausta – A large insectoid dragon that shoots sticky thread from it's mouth rather than fire Qilin – A maned deer-like creature with a single antler and a dragon-like tail Sirrush – A dragon with the hind legs of an eagle and the front legs of a lion Stymphalian Bird – Man-eating birds with bronze beaks and metallic feathers that they could launch at foes Valravn – A raven that gained human knowledge after eating a slain king's heart Zburator – A dragon with a flaming tail and a wolf's head Zlatorog – White deer with golden horns

Gryphon

Also spelt griffin of griffon, the name is potentially derived from the Greek γρυπός (grypos), meaning 'curved', or 'hooked'; or from the Akkadian karūbu meaning ‘winged creature’. The gryphon has been appearing in Egyptian and Iranian art from as far back as 3000 B.C. and is best recorded in Greek sources which date back to 1500 BC, which was itself inherited in stories brought back by traders from India.

The gryphon is traditionally depicted with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, although sometimes these wings were absent (known in heraldry as an alke or keythong). They also have front talons, an odd frill behind their heads, and pointed, almost horse-like ears. The Ancient Greeks knew the lion as the King of Beasts and the eagle as the King of Birds, and so the gryphon was seen as peerless in its power and majesty, the greatest of all earth’s predators.

They are sometimes said to live in the mountains and forests of eastern Europe, but are most commonly depicted desert mountains of South Asia and the Middle East. The gryphons of Europe are smaller, around the size of a mountain lion, whilst the Eastern gryphon is sometimes described as more like a winged lion than fully a lion-eagle hybrid. The majority of our knowledge of gryphons describes the Eastern variety, as these stories were carried back along the Silk Road. These stories told of the battles between the gryphons and the Arimaspians, a tribe of one-eyed humanoids who lived in northern Scythia. The gryphons were skilled miners and greedy hoarders of the gold which they found in their mountains, which the Arimaspians sought to steal from them. The Arimaspians would attack, and in retaliation the gryphons would kill and eat them and their horses alike.

Other legends claim the gryphons to be wise and talkative, who would ask travellers riddles and either reward them with gold for a right answer or kill them for a wrong one. Some accounts also portray gryphons as chariot bearers for the god Apollo and Nemesis. The association with Apollo may be what led to the claim that a gryphon’s claws could heal sickness and their feathers blindness; it also led to connection between gryphons and the sun. Through Nemesis, they developed a reputation as bringers of sharp-clawed justice. Wingless gryphons were guardians of the Palace of Minos at Knossos. Perhaps in accordance with their mixed reputations in Classical mythology, in the Medieval era there was some confusion as to whether gryphons were symbols of good or evil. In Christian iconography, they are often shown as devouring sinners or as symbols of Jesus (representing as they do the union of two kingdoms). The medieval Church also believed that gryphons mated for life, and used them as an emblem against remarriage.

The mountains where the gryphons were said to nest are home to rich gold mines. Also plentiful there are the fossilised remains of many a pentacerops. The pentacerops was vast in size, with a great frill behind their head, bone nubs like the base of wings at their shoulders, and a sharp, hooked beak. Many modern scholars believe that the sight of these fossils inspired the depiction of the gryphon.

Mythical Flying Creatures

Djinn (Genie or Jinn) - are supernatural creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian and later Islamic mythology and theology. Jinn are not a strictly islam concept; rather they may represent several pagan beliefs integrated into islam.

Dragon - is a large serpentine legendary creature that appears in folklore of many cultures around the world. Beliefs about dragons vary drastically by religion, but dragons in western cultures since the high middle ages have often been depicted as winged, horned, four-legged and capable of breathing fire. Dragons in eastern cultures are usually depicted as wingless, four-legged, serpentine creatures with above average intelligence.

Fairies - is a type of mythical being or legendary creature in European folklore, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.

Gargoyle - is a fantasy and horror monster inspired by the gargoyle architectural element. While they were believed in mythology to frighten away evil spirits, the idea of such statues coming to life was a more recent notion.

Griffin (Griffon or Gryphon) - is a legendary creature with the body, tail and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle's talons as its front feet. Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beats and the eagle the king of the birds, by the middle ages, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. They were known for guarding treasures and priceless possessions.

Harpy - In greek and Roman mythology a Harpy is a half-human and half-bird personification of storm winds. They feature a lot in Homeric poems.

Hippogriff (Hippogryph) - In Ancient Greek folklore the Hippogriff is a legendary creature which has the front half of an eagle and the hind half of a horse.

Manticore - In Persian Legends it is a creature similar to a Sphinx. It has the head of a human, the body of a lion and a tail of  venomous spines similar to porcupine quills or tails of a scorpion. It shoots spines from its tail like an arrow, eating its victims whole, and has a triple rows of teeth, leaving no bones behind.

Pegasus - Is a mythical winged divine horse, and one of the most recognised creatures in Greek mythology. Usually depicted as pure white, Pegasus is the offspring of the Olympian God Poseidon. He was foaled by the Gorgon Medusa.

Phoenix - In Ancient Greek mythology the phoenix is a long lived bird that cyclically regenerates or is born again. Associated with the sun, a Phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. Most accounts say that it lives 500 years before rebirth.

Thunderbird - Is a legendary creature within certain North American indigenous people's history and culture. It is considered a supernatural being of power and strength.

Griffin

The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle's talons as its front feet. Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of birds by the Middle Ages the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. Since classical antiquity, Griffins were known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions.

Most statuary representations of griffins depict them with bird-like talons, although in some older illustrations griffins have a lion's forelimbs; they generally have a lion's hindquarters. Its eagle's head is conventionally given prominent ears; these are sometimes described as the lion's ears, but are often elongated (more like a horse's), and are sometimes feathered.

Infrequently, a griffin is portrayed without wings, or a wingless eagle-headed lion is identified as a griffin. In 15th-century and later heraldry, such a beast may be called an alce or a keythong.

In heraldry, a griffin always has forelegs like an eagle's hind-legs. A type of griffin with the four legs of a lion was distinguished by perhaps only one English herald of later heraldry as the Opinicus, which also had a camel-like neck and a short tail that almost resembles a camel's tail.