More than even *I* care about Opinici (was Folklore-question)

[pengolodh_sc at yahoo.no]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:
> Two tidbits from my Fox-Davies' Complete Guide to Heraldry:
> 
> The Opinicus is another monster seldom met with in armory. When it 
> does occur it is represented as a winged gryphon, with a lion's 
> legs and a short tail. Another description of it gives it the body 
> and forelegs of a lion, the head, neck, and wings of an eagle, and 
> the tail of a camel. It is the cres of the Livery Company of 
> Barbers in London.....Sometimes the wings are omitted. (231-232)

Oddly enough, the illustration of the Opinicus made the head look 
more like that of a sheep.  The tail was rather long, and rather in 
the style of a monkey's tail.

> I found nothing on its derivation or meaning or history, save that 
> Friar says it's a "mythical Greek" monster. Since the griffin is, 
> too, I'm betting that it derives directly from the griffin (i.e., 
> began life as a griffin drawn differently from the "classical," and 
> then the differences were perpetuated [no ears, lion legs] until it 
> got itself a different term). So it probably does what griffins do.
> 
> --Amanda, whose maiden name has just *got* to have been Binns

Oh no, you're much mroe interesting.

My thanks.

Best regards
Christian Stubø