The Simurgh is a legendary creature of Iranian mythology. It is a benevolent, majestic bird that symbolises longevity and happiness. The word "Simurgh" derives from Avestan language and literally means "a thousand birds". The Simurgh is an avian being in the shape of a bird with feathers made of gold, a wingspan large enough to carry off an elephant or whale, and eyes like copper glowing like stars."
The Simurgh is depicted in Iranian art as a winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. It has the head of a dog and talons like those of an eagle.
It has been described as "a giant flying roc with eyes everywhere" (Larousse Encyclopedia), and "Parias", a Persian mythical bird that can understand human language, having 1000 wings and eyes on all sides of its body.
The Simurgh's feathers and eyes are said to be the colour of copper, and though her wings look golden, they are said to actually be red.
Simurgh's feathers and eyes are said to be the colour of copper, and though her wings look golden, they are said to actually be red. The simurgh is a mythological bird which is depicted in Persian mythology as a benevolent creature. It has been described in poetry as "a huge bird with an eagle's head, eyes like emeralds", sometimes identified with the thunderbird.
In the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), a 10th-century epic poem written by Ferdowsi and based on historical events and figures from ancient Persia, the Simurgh is depicted as having a body with brilliant feathers that shine like stars in the night sky. The poem also says that its head resembles a dog's head with two ears pricked up like those of an elephant. In addition to these features, it has talons with which to grab prey and rend flesh from bone. It is said to have an extraordinarily long tail—long enough for it to wrap around itself several times when resting on its tree perch at night—and wings that are so large they can shelter an army during battle.[5]
In other sources (including Shahnameh), such as The Thousand and One Nights[6], there are depictions of Simurghs having multiple wings instead of just two pairs.[7] These other portrayals may have been influenced by Hinduism[8], where Garuda has four wings instead of two.[9][10] In some versions, this bird was said to be able to fly around freely without even needing any branches because he had his own pair which helped him out when needed.[11]
Depictions commonly show the bird with its wings arched over its head in the shape of the letter "خ", as it is known in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. The simurgh is described as a bird that lives for thousands of years, and in the Shahnameh, the oldest Persian epic, each feather on its wings represents a different color of the rainbow. Depictions commonly show the bird with its wings arched over its head in the shape of the letter "خ", as it is known in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. The simurgh was thought to be so powerful that it could carry water from one end of Earth to another by dipping its tail into a river and flying back across our planet's surface.
The Phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird from Greek mythology that originates from Phoenicia. It is often depicted as having a crimson, purple and gold plumage, with the head of an eagle, which has earned it the title "King of Birds". The Phoenix is also known to represent immortality, resurrection, renewal and prosperity. The Phoenix represents love and marriage; it symbolizes peace and prosperity; it symbolizes wealth and prosperity
Reportedly larger than an eagle and brilliantly colored, it has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.
The phoenix is a mythical bird that lives for around 500 to 1000 years before building a nest of twigs that it then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.
The simurgh is an Iranian legendary creature that is similar but separate from the Arabian phoenix. Reportedly larger than an eagle and brilliantly colored, it has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new young simurgh or simurgh egg arises reborn anew to live again.
