What’s the Difference Between Griffins & Hippogriffs?

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Spoiler! One is part lion, and the other is part horse

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: February 19, 2023 Fact Checked

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• How are hippogriffs different from griffins?
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• Griffins Explained
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• Hippogriffs Explained
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• Mythological History
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• Other Mythological Creatures

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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.

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Section 1 of 5:

How are hippogriffs different from griffins?

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   Hippogriffs are part horse and eagle, while griffins are part lion and eagle. 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.
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Section 2 of 5:

Griffins Explained

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   Griffins have an eagle's head and wings and a lion's body. These mythological creatures are a force to be reckoned with, and their image has dated all the way back to the 2nd millennium BCE. Griffins are symbols of leadership, power, and wealth, making them the perfect motif for kings.

   • Griffin is also known as “griffon” or “gryphon.”
   • The “griffin” derives from the Latin word grīphus, which means “an intricate or puzzling question or riddle.”
   • 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

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   Hippogriffs have the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse. 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.

   • 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).
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Section 4 of 5:

Mythological History

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   Griffins are prevalent in Greek mythology, while hippogriffs are not. 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. 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

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   Hypogriffs and griffins are often confused with other legendary creatures. 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.
   • Lamassu is a winged bull with the head of a human.
   • 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.
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