People cite fossils as inspiring mythical creatures. Often, they are convincing (therapod dinosaur fossils inspired dragons across the world, for example).
Since the 1970s, people thought griffins were inspired by the fossils of protoceratops.
A historian pinpointed the origin of 2500 year-old Greek griffin stories to Central Asia, in areas rich with both gold and fossils.
This created griffin stories, the theory goes. The historian continues to say that these griffin stories were brought to Greece along trade routes.
A historian pinpointed the origin of 2500 year-old Greek griffin stories to Central Asia, in areas rich with both gold and fossils.
This created griffin stories, the theory goes. The historian continues to say that these griffin stories were brought to Greece along trade routes.
However, a 2024 study debunked this.
Griffins were popular in Greece before it traded with Central Asia. This meant griffin stories simply couldn't have originated from Central Asia.
Also, the gold site mentioned in the ancient texts? The 2024 study claims this is nowhere near the location of the protoceratops fossils. So conflating the metal with the dinosaur was a falsity.
Thus it's clear to see that all the details of this story are suspect. The protoceratops fossils and griffin stories clearly couldn't have originated from the same location or at the same time. Hence protoceratops couldn't have inspired griffins.
Griffins were popular in Greece before it traded with Central Asia. This meant griffin stories simply couldn't have originated from Central Asia.
Also, the gold site mentioned in the ancient texts? The 2024 study claims this is nowhere near the location of the protoceratops fossils. So conflating the metal with the dinosaur was a falsity.
Thus it's clear to see that all the details of this story are suspect. The protoceratops fossils and griffin stories clearly couldn't have originated from the same location or at the same time. Hence protoceratops couldn't have inspired griffins.
No comments:
Post a Comment