These Griffin-like natives of North Africa were worshiped as gods by the ancient Egyptians and were said to bear the head and wings of a hawk blended with the muscular torso and razor sharp claws of a large, feral feline. Most depictions of these hybrid beasts, which show three, curved appendages resting atop the their skulls. These strange adornments, which bear more than a passing resemblance to a rooster’s crest, have made some researchers conclude that human interactions with these unique creatures were almost solely with that of the males of the species.