Page "Hippogriff" Paragraph 22

The reason for its great rarity is that griffins regard horses as prey.

It has been suggested this idea was strong enough in medieval times to produce an expression, " to mate griffins with horses ", which meant about the same as the modern expression, " When pigs fly ".

The hippogriff was therefore a symbol of impossibility and love.

The hippogriff, in legends is said to be far faster, stronger and more intelligent than their fathers, the griffin, apparently traveling at the " speed of lightning ".

This was supposedly inspired by Virgil's Eclogues: ... mate Gryphons with mares, and in the coming age shy deer and hounds together come to drink .., which would also be the source for the reputed medieval expression, if indeed it was one.