Iconography: The Pisa Griffin

The continual reemergence of mythology and iconography is a fact and is seen through the three-and-a-half-foot-high Islamic bronze statue, the Pisa Griffin.  An invention of ancient mythology created by amalgamating a lion and eagle has been interpreted symbolically by various cultures.  Christians had seen the beast as their own God. It came to signify the dual nature of Jesus, the eagle, which stood for his divinity, and the lion which stood for humanity. This sculpture is symbolic of many things no matter which culture created it, but it is also illustrative of how different cultures often appropriated the art of other cultures and imbuing it with their own values, symbols, and beliefs.

For Muslims, the eagle-like qualities signified vigilance, and its lion-like qualities, courage.  It is unknown how the griffin got to Pisa but many scholars have suggested that it may have originated in Persia, in the East, or perhaps in Spain, in the West.  It was placed on the top of the cathedral that was built in celebration of the Pisa victory over Muslim forces in 1063. It became the symbol of the city’s place at the center of the Mediterranean trade. The Griffin has been in Pisa in Italy since the Middle Ages.

It was said by the Assyrians and Persians that the griffin guarded the gold of India, while the Greeks believed these creatures watched over the gold of Scythians. The Pisa Griffin had some characteristics of a lion and some of an eagle, the head and wings of the eagle, and the broad chest and thick body of a lion. It was decorated with feathers on the wings, and the carving of its back suggests it is wearing a silk drape, which links it with Asia.  It is used to denote strength and military courage and leadership. Griffins are portrayed with rear body of a lion, an eagle's head, with erect ears, and feathered breast, with forelegs of an eagle, including claws. The combination indicates a combination of intelligence and strength. According to Stephen Friar's New Dictionary of Heraldry, a griffin's claw was believed to have medicinal properties and one of its feathers could restore sight to the blind.

In todays’ world, the Eagle is a symbol of strength, loyalty, courage, and freedom. Because of that, it is the national emblem for the United States. You can find it on so many things that we come across in our everyday lives, on the backs of our gold coins, the silver dollar, the half dollar and the quarter.  It is prominent in seals and logos, postage stamps, and other items relating to the U.S. federal government.

Over so many decades, the Eagle has been an important figure in many cultures.  Starting with the Pisa griffin in Italy, with its eagle like head and wings, to the bald eagle that means so much to the people of America. The continual reemergence of these symbolic creatures goes to show that even through the hundreds of years, people still come together and believe that these figures represent the people in some way, shape, or form.