Griffin on Roman fresco

Roman fresco from the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, showing a griffin. The scene shows a member of the Arimaspa people stealing gold from a griffin. The object dates back to the mid-1st century BCE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Arimaspas were one-eyed people mentioned by Herodotus in his “Histories”. They lived east of the Black Sea and north of Scythia. As you can see in the painting, the dissatisfied griffin attacks the thief.

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Battle of Ilipa Wars of second triumvirate Great Roman civil war Gallic Wars Lucius Licinius Lucullus