AlphynThis is a featured page

A wonderful wolf creature featured in heraldry. It sports a dragon's scaly underbelly and forelimbs, a long knotted tail, large pointed ears, and a thin, pointed tongue. They are not winged and cannot fly but it's said that they might be able to breath fire.


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An Alphyn (from the Germanic word for "chaser" or "wolf") is a rare heraldic creature. It is much like an heraldic tiger but is stockier and has tufts of hair covering its body. It also has a thick mane and a long thin tongue. Another notable characteristic is its knotted tail, reminiscent of Celtic design. The tail, shown as a lion's, may relate it to the griffin. Sometimes its forefeet are depicted like an eagle's claws, also comparable it to the griffin, other times they are cloven, as in a goat. Occasionally, all four feet are shown like the claws of a lion. In English heraldry, the Alphyn was used as a heraldic badge of the Lords de la Warr and in addition to appearing on the guidon held by the knight in the Milleflour Tapestry in Somerset.


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Mythical_Geek
Latest page update: made by Mythical_Geek , Jun 12 2011, 12:30 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Mythical_Geek Moved from: List of Mythical Creatures - Mythical_Geek

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