Amphiptere (also called Amphithere, Amphitere, or Phipthere) is a term used to describe a type of legless winged serpent found in European heraldry.
Description[]
Ampitheares are one of the most restricted dragon species anatomically speaking. They can have either feathered (normally greenish-yellow) or bat wings, long or short necks, and often decorative or arrow-tipped tail much like a wyvern's. Some amphipetere races do have other characteristics, but they aren't very major and consist mainly of feather or scale size, head shape, body length and any necessary adaptions for their environment.
History[]
The Amphiptere is found semi-frequently in European heraldic symbols. Some appear on crests, however most are seen warped or balanced around spears or on top poles. The symbology is unknown, however heraldic symbolism dealing with "winged snakes" describe those who adorn such symbols as someone "who swiftly deals justice." It has been suggested by some that the amphiptere appears on the coat of arms on those who went to Ireland to repel the serpents in the region, however this claim has not been verified.
Winged serpents in non-European cultures such as the Ureaus from ancient Egyptian mythology and Quetzacoatl from Aztec mythology are also well-known. The specific classification of mythical winged snakes outside of European heraldry as amphipteres doesn't originate from historical sources however, rather having stemmed from modern fantasy.
Amphipteres in Popular Culture[]
The famous long-running Dragons toy line from Mega Bloks featured an evil amphithere named Gryndel, who, as a Shadow Dragon, fed on the life force of enemy warriors. His element was Aluminum. Amphipteres are also present in the Dragonology book series as well as the book Dracopedia: A Guide to Drawing the Dragons of the World.
Gallery of Amphiptere pictures.[]
Sources[]
- The Circle of the Dragon - Amphiptere/Amphithere/Amphitere
- The Circle of the Dragon - Dragons in Heraldry