The Griffin (or Gryphon) is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Combining the attributes of the "King of the Beasts" and the "King of the Air", it was thought to be especially powerful and majestic. Griffins appear widely as school sports team mascots, in heraldry and in corporate logos.
The coat of arms of Latvia has a griffin on the shield and a griffin as a supporter. The griffin on the shield is holding a sword and is the symbol of Vidzeme and Latgale (Eastern Latvia), one of the historical territories making up modern day Latvia. The coat of arms of Lithuania also features a white griffin as a supporter. Historically, the coat of arms of Austria-Hungary featured a black-gold griffin as a supporter.
Some municipalities have griffins derived from state or county arms, e.g. many towns in the ancient province of Pomerania in Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and Poland (Pomeranian Voivodeship and West Pomeranian Voivodeship) have the Pomeranian griffin in their arms.
Image | Subdivision | Type | Years | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bad Doberan | district | 1995–2011 | Germany (Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania) | ||
Banie | village | until 2003 | Poland (West Pomeranian Voivodeship) | ||
Belz Voivodeship | voivodeship | 1462–1772 | Kingdom of Poland | ||
Bjarkøy | municipality | 1986–2013 | Norway | ||
Gdańsk Voivodeship | voivodeship | 1462–1793 | Kingdom of Poland | Coat of arms of the Pomeranian Voivodeship | |
Jaunjelgava Municipality | municipality | 2009–2021 | Latvia | ||
Pomeranian Voivodeship | voivodeship | 1466–1772 | Kingdom of Poland | Coat of arms of the Pomeranian Voivodeship | |
Troms | county | 1960–2020 | Norway |