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A Roman legendary creature of gildet bronze

A griffin is a legendary creature, a mixture of an eagle and a lion. In the Roman world the griffin symbolized military power and protection, and therefore you often see the griffin on military equipment, but also as decoration on beautiful waggons.

The griffen from Vimose was found in 1849 by peat workers who told that it was sitting on a pole with a red and blue flag. Unfortunately the flag dissolved in the bog water as the workers touched it. The griffin may have derived from a Roman gladiator helmet. A helmet of the 1th century AD from Pompeii in Italy also includes a griffin. Most helmets from the 2nd century is especially decorated with eagles. Perhaps it was the Roman griffin recycled and applied to a Germanic tab in the style of the Roman army, which was decorated with a golden eagle?