Simurgh : The Giant Bird

The Simurgh is a mythical flying creature in Iranian or Persian mythology that's regarded as a benevolent and generous creature. It's believed that it can help purify the environment and provide fertility. The animal symbolized the union between the sky and earth by serving as a messenger between the two.

It is believed that the Simurgh was inspired by the legend of the Roc and the Rukh, which was told in Arabia. It can be found in various periods of Iranian literature and art, and it is also commonly depicted in the iconography of other cultures that were influenced by Persian culture.

In Iranian art, the Simurgh is depicted as a winged creature that's enormous enough to carry off a whale or an elephant. Originally, it was depicted as a type of peacock with the head of a dog and claws of a lion and later with the face of a human. The simurgh is also inherently benevolent and unambiguously female. Being part mammal, she suckles her young, and has teeth.  It has an enmity towards snakes, and its natural habitat is a place with plenty of water.

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