Alphyn |

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Feb 25 2009, 6:47 AM EST (current) Ravenite 155 words added, 7 words deleted, 1 photo added
Dec 17 2008, 10:11 AM EST Cinderfeather 38 words added

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Alphyn - A Heraldic CreatureA wonderful wolf creature featured in heraldry,itheraldry, it sports a dragon's scaly underbelly and forelimbs,aforelimbs, a long knotted tail,largetail, large pointed ears,andears, and a thin,pointedthin, tongue.Theypointed tongue. They are not winged and cannot fly,butfly, 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.