iminskool

Because the Lexus SC430 bears the emblem of the Griffin, I have searched and compiled a bunch of information from the internet in order to try and understand the meaning behind this car and why the Griffin was chosen. If you choose not to read everything below, I will sum it up right now in the introduction paragraph.


The Griffin is a mythological beast that has been known to guard gold's and richs. It pulls the chariot's of powerful godly people. Because of the fact that the Griffin pull's the chariot's of these very high status individuals, I have found something very interesting....

The Lexus SC430 is not symbolic of the Griffin, meaning it wasn't meant to make us believe that the car itself is a convertible and thus can fly through air and zoom through land. The meaning behind the Griffin is that it is the animal that pulls the chariot of the "Noble." The SC430 is the chariot and the nobles are those that drive this car. So if you drive the SC430, you should acknowledge yourself as a very powerful, noble person who is riding in a chariot, that is being pulled by the intelligent, strong, and clever mythological creature called the "Griffin."



The Hounds of Zeus

Griffin’s have been called "The Hounds of Zeus". The Griffin commonly appears in heraldry, where it represents strength and vigilance. It is the emblem of the hero. This was partially due to the Griffin’s duel nature. As Sir Thomas Browne said '[The Griffin is] an Emblem of valor and magnanimity, as being compounded of the Eagle and the Lion, the noblest Animals in their kinds...' This duality was why the Griffin was used to represent the dual nature of Christ, who is both human and divine.

It has pulled the chariots of Pharaoh, Apollo, Nemesis, and Alexander the Great. A major heraldic animal, it has been emblazoned on the shields of knights and on the coats of arms and royalty. It has been watchful and loyal, graceful and swift, rapacious and vengeful, monstrous and divine. While the Griffin is a mortal enemy of horses, its magic talons have detected poison and its feathers have cured blindness.

Zeus: The principal god of the Greek pantheon, ruler of the heavens, and father of other gods and mortal heroes.
Pharaoh: Pharaoh is a title used to refer to any ruler, usually male, of the Egyptian kingdom in the pre-Christian, pre-Islamic period.
Apollo: The god of prophecy, music, medicine, and poetry, sometimes identified with the sun. A young man of great physical beauty.
Nemesis: Greek goddess of retribution. (Avenger)
Alexander the Great: Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) was the king of Macedon, the leader of the Corinthian League, and the conqueror of Persia. He succeeded in forging the largest Western empire of the ancient world.

RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
The Griffin is a mystical creature part Eagle and part lion. The perfect personification of Jesus. An “incarnation” – the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form. Christ is an eagle soaring free with the breeze. But an Eagle can also be fierce as itself and as a Lion. Jesus Christ is peace personified but terrible as an army dressed in battle array when provoked.
In Christian symbolism, the Griffin originally represented Satan and evil, but later came to represent Christ, especially his dual nature, both divine and earthly, as the Griffin had mastery of both land and sky, and was noble and majestic.

GRIFFIN MYTHOLOGY & SYMBOLISM
In Persian mythology, in particular during the Achaemenid dynasty, Griffins called Homa were used widely as statues and symbols in palaces. Homa also had a special place in Persian literature as guardians of light.
The symbolism of the lion-eagle combination was also the subject of a quotation attributed to Chassaneus by Alexander Nisbet in his System of Heraldry (1722; p 343 of Vol I of the 1816 edn): "Gryphus significat sapientiam jungendam fortitudini, sed sapientiam debere praeire, fortitudinem sequi.".
This translates as:
“The Griffin represents wisdom joined to fortitude, but wisdom should lead, and fortitude follow".

Between their eagle sight, and lion strength, Griffin are very effective hunters.
The talon of a Griffin was said to detect poison in a liquid when used as a drinking cup. Very handy for the nobility, as this was a common form of assassination.

Griffins were said to kill serpents and basilisks, both embodiments of evil, thus protecting mankind. Griffins symbolize both strength and wisdom combined in heraldry. On medieval buildings, Griffins were often used as gargoyles, great stone guardians.

"Griffins are portrayed with a lion's body, an eagle's head, long ears, and an eagle's claws, to indicate that one must combine intelligence and strength."

This legend describes the Griffin's legendary cleverness:
Once upon an ancient time, three mythical creatures engaged in mortal combat in the skies above the world: the dragon, the chimera and the Griffin. The dragon used fire and his ability to fly to crushing effect, while the chimera looked in all directions at once with his many heads, appearing an invincible enemy. The Griffin watched his two foes for a long time, seeking out their strengths and weaknesses. At last he engaged in conflict.
Using his wit and intelligence he lured the dragon into the depths of the ocean where his fire was extinguished forever. Burrowing through the earth beneath the chimera, the Griffin attacked from the one direction the chimera had not expected. The chimera never recovered from the surprise and was easily vanquished. In this way a creature thought much smaller and weaker than its adversaries won a great victory!

Simile from the Griffins, Paradise Lost, Book
II.:
"As when a Griffin through the wilderness,
With winged course, o'er hill and moory dale,
Pursues the Arimaspian who by stealth
Hath from his wakeful custody purloined
His guarded gold."





GRIFFIN NESTS IN GOLD AND LAY NOT EGGS, BUT GOODLUCK AND HEALING

Griffins, like birds, built nests, or eyries (aeries), as the nest of a bird of prey is called. The Griffin laid an agate, rather than an egg, therein. Griffins found gold in the mountains and made their nests from it. Griffins themselves depict gold, as they represent the wealth of the sun at dawn, the gold in the east. They are also said to line their nests, called Eyries, with pure gold, woe be to the traveler looking to steal it. Not only did they mate for life, but if one partner died, the other would never re-mate.

Griffins were consecrated to the Sun; and ancient painters represented the chariot of the Sun as drawn by Griffins. The Griffin was a common feature of "animal style" Scythian gold; it was said to inhabit the Scythia steppes that reached from the modern Ukraine to central Asia; there gold and precious stones were abundant; and when strangers approached to gather the stones, the creatures would leap on them and tear them to pieces. The Scythians used giant petrified bones found in this area as proof of the existence of Griffins and to keep outsiders away from the gold and precious stones.
[ The Griffin was said to build a nest, like an eagle: instead of eggs, it lays agates ]
AGATES
Agate is believed to cure the stings of scorpions and the bites of snakes, soothe the mind, prevent contagion, still thunder and lightning, promote eloquence, secure the favour of the powerful, and bring victory over enemies.

HONESTY / TRUTH / STRENGTH
They are allegedly so honest, that falsehood cannot be spoken in their presence. If one had a Griffin feather, he would always know the truth and no lies or illusions would lead him astray. This led to the hunting of Griffin in Medieval Times and the near extinction of the entire species. The remaining individuals were forced to begin hunting at night to hide their presence from humans, and so we have no clear ideas as to their numbers anymore. Griffins are reputed as being highly intelligent as well as incredibly strong.

The Griffin is a Greek mythical monster, the guardian of a hidden treasure. The creature is composed of the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion, and the head, forelegs and wings of an eagle. The Griffin represents speed and majesty.
Long ears, sharp eyes and cruelly hooked bills make the griffon a fearsome beast. The tail functions as a rudder in flight. The heavy rear paws help provide extra thrust during take-off and are used to hold pray down while the beak and claws do their worst. The claws are like massive eagles' feet. As the griffon swoops on its quarry, the rear talon sinks into the flesh first. Then the front claws close to form a deadly cage, firmly gripping the doomed creature.
Griffins love gold and gemstones, which they are known to steal, hoard and guard with savage strength and ferocity.

martini3

Wow! That's just terrific and very inspirational.
Thanks so much for the in depth research and historical and spiritual meaning behind the emblem.

I'm sure every proud owner of this exceptional symbol will adhere to practice and feel proud of what it stands for.

And I will try to live up to it's reputation every time I step into this chariot.

LexLaw

Very good research there. Thanx, Funny thing is, I often refer to my SC as my chariot. Now it all makes sense.

LXotic

Thanks for taking ur time to reasearch and share all the neat stories that lies behind the griffin

velocity12

OK, I give up. Where does the Sc 430 bear the symbol of a griffin?

Gojirra99

The Lexus brand was not introduced in Japan until the 2006 model year cars. Pre-2006, the Lexus SC430 was sold as the Toyota Soarer in Japan, & bears the Griffin emblem as shown below on the grille.



It was not until the 2006 model year with the facelift/upgrade that it officially becomes a Lexus SC430 in Japan.

herragge

Awesome read thanks for the research! Very informative and interesting.

Steve