Two Lappet-faced Vultures horn in on the Griffon Vulture's feast. The feather of the Griffon Vulture, according to Greek myth, could protect against snake bites, cure blindness, and relieve the pain of childbirth. This vulture was also typically associated with the goddess Nekhebet who was the patroness of the city of El-Kab in Upper Egypt. When El-Kab became important early in ancient Egyptian history, the vulture soon became a heraldic creature for all of Upper Egypt. As such, the vulture was often shown with the cobra (the herald of Lower Egypt) wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt. She also appeared in the nebty or "Two Ladies" name of the pharaoh. The Lappet-faced or Nubian Vulture has it's own place in Mythology... The Hausas, an African tribe developed a tale based on this great vulture. According to the legend, there was an enormous bird called the Jipillima, that feasted on humans, but whose droppings had the ability to cure anything. One day, the king's son became ill because an evil witch had forced magic thorns into his body. A young woman in love with the prince went out in search of a cure for him. Coming across a tree full of Jipillimas, she heard them talking of the sick man, after complaining of their hunger--they had only eaten 99 men that day! She heard them telling that the only way the man could be healed was if he were fed their droppings. So the girl hastily gathered up some droppings, took them back to the prince, and fed them to him. He vomited up the painful thorns, and was healed. The girl was rewarded by marrying the prince. Rendered in Poser 7 Pro without Postwork. Models: Vultures and Carrion (me), Zebra, Backdrop (DAZ)