Gryphon

Gryphon (5.XXXVIII.i).

An older pronunciation and spelling of the mythical beast, the griffin. In Berber folklore, the gryphon it is the result of the Ormaddu, a huge bird, mating with a female wolf. The mother is split apart by the gryphon upon birth. However, the griffin is also one of the oldest and most respected creatures in mythology, dating back as far as the writings of Aristeas in the seventh century BC. It is often used as a symbol of strength and regality. In Greek legend, the griffin was the chosen animal of Apollo and it was also used as a symbol of the Roman Empire. The creature is in a simile describing Satan in Paradise Lost: 'As when a griffin through the wilderness/With winged course o’er hill or moory dale/Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth/Had from his wakeful custody purloined/The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend/O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,/With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way' (II: 943-7); the Arimaspi were a race of one-eyed horseman from the North of Greece who were said to always be at war with the griffins as the Arimaspi always stole their gold (Bib:27; Bib:28a).  The griffin is clearly a beast of dual interpretation, representing strength and honour, but also pain and war. Walcott’s griffins seem to be snarling because they are forced to hear ‘the cries in/the Isle of Dogs running over Westminster Bridge’, evoked by the ‘voice’ of the ‘bargeman’, the Isle of Dogs being another symbol of a darker side of London.

Amanda Hopkins : 06 Jun 2008 16:31 |  Tags: Apollo Arimaspi Arimaspian Europe Glossary Griffin Gryphon Milton Mythology Paradise Lost Peoples Satan |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem