Abstract:
Problem statement: The griffin is one of the composite creatures in ancient mythology
that appears with the body of a lion, the ear of a horse, the head, and the wings of an
eagle. This creature has been present during the historical periods of Iran, which shows its
importance among Iranians. However, there are ambiguous points about how the griffin of
the pre-Islamic era is related to the griffin of the Islamic era. Therefore, in this research, the
griffin has been studied as a popular ornamental motif in two important historical periods
of Iran; the Achaemenids in ancient times and Seljuk in the Islamic era.
Research objective: This article aims to study the manner of impressions, differences,
and similarities between the griffin in Achaemenid art and Seljuk art by considering the
comparative approach.
Research method: For this purpose, using the descriptive-analytical method, twenty-one
artworks including the griffin in both historical periods were analyzed and compared in
separate tables.
Conclusion: The results of the comparative study reveal that despite the differences, these
motifs were often similar in terms of structural characteristics, physical posture, and visual
features. Symbolically, they often had common concepts, such as the royal essence, power
and wealth, and the guardian of the treasure and the palace. Influenced by religious beliefs,
they were a symbol of goodness and blessing, magic invalidation, and protecting the tree of
life. However, in some Achaemenid artworks, the griffin has been shown with a demonic
aspect, in the conflict between good and evil. In general, the number of similarities and
differences indicates that the griffin in the Seljuk period was affected by its similar motif in
the Achaemenids, and factors such as political dominance, the authority of the monarchy,
religious beliefs, and folk culture played a role in their formation and application.