Joseph Nigg

"[Joseph Nigg] has done for the world of fantastical animals what Joseph Campbell did more generally for the world of myth."


Joseph (Joe) Nigg has been writing about mythical beasts ever since he became intrigued by a fantastic animal figure on an antique lamp in his study. The winged lion with a fish tail led him to the local art museum, where he was allowed to hold an ancient Persian cup embossed with griffins. That experience resulted in his first book, The Book of Gryphons (Apple-wood Books, 1982), a lavishly illustrated history of the eagle-lion beast. Since then, his scope has broadened to the host of mythical beasts worldwide.

"Dragons, unicorns, griffins, the phoenix, and other traditional animals of the imagination are all around us in words and images," Nigg writes. "But when you delve into the histories of these creatures, you'll find an incredible wealth of cross-cultural lore intertwined with history, myth, religion, art, literature, science, and specialized areas such as alchemy and heraldry. While looking beyond the popular presence of mythical beasts, you'll discover as much about the history and dreams of the human race as about our animal creations."

Nigg's mythical-beast books have garnered many awards and led to other opportunities for the author. His "Master of Mythology" interview with Joseph Campbell, a long-time influence, is included in Living in Words (Breitenbush Books, 1988). He also participated in the Ancient Mysteries "Dragons" segment on the Arts & Entertainment network and served as the show's historical consultant (1997; on Myths and Legends DVD, 2001). He has, as well, shared his knowledge of mythical creatures in talks to all age groups, from preschoolers to seniors.

Copyright © 2008 Joseph Nigg