Reliëf met griffioenen van de San Marco in Venetië before 1885

This photograph by Carl Heinrich Jacobi captures a relief featuring griffins from San Marco in Venice. The griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, strides boldly across these panels, embodying a potent mix of terrestrial strength and aerial vision. This symbol has ancient roots. We see early forms of it in the art of ancient Persia and Egypt, where it was often associated with royalty and divine power. As the griffin migrated through history and cultures, it appeared on coats of arms, architectural decorations, and illuminated manuscripts, each time adapting to new symbolic environments. Even in our modern world, the echoes of the griffin’s symbolism resonate. Consider the persistence of this hybrid creature—a testament to humanity’s enduring fascination with the fusion of different attributes. The griffin, in its layered symbolism, taps into our collective unconscious, a primal symbol of protection and vigilance.