New study finds dinosaur fossils did not inspire the mythological griffin

Credit: Dr Mark P. Witton.

Painting of a griffin, a lion-raptor chimaera, alongside the fossils of Protoceratops, a horned dinosaur. The latter are said to have informed the lore and appearance of the former, but our study suggests that there is no compelling connection between dinosaurs and griffins. Image from Witton and Hing (2024).

« New study finds dinosaur fossils did not inspire the mythological griffin

Credit: Dr Mark P. Witton.

Comparisons between the skeleton of Protoceratops and ancient griffin art. The griffins are all very obviously based on big cats, from their musculature and long, flexible tails to the manes (indicated by coiled “hair” on the neck), and birds, and differ from Protoceratops in virtually all measures of proportion and form. Image compiled from illustrations in Witton and Hing (2024)

« New study finds dinosaur fossils did not inspire the mythological griffin

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