I think it's just easier/better storytelling to use shorthand descriptions based on things people may already have seen. Griffins, Chimeras, and Sphinxes are ea

I think it's just easier/better storytelling to use shorthand descriptions based on things people may already have seen. Griffins, Chimeras, and Sphinxes are easier to picture in the mind's eye than Azathoth, Yog-Sothoth, and Shub-Niggurath.