Simurgh

There's something oddly compelling about the word simurgh; it sounds exotic and wondrous, and when you find out at an early age, if you're lucky that it's "an immortal bird that nests in the branches of the Tree of Knowledge" and "is known to take children into its nest to nurse them or foster them," the name seems somehow fitting. ❋ Unknown (2005)

First seen and sung by seers and singers in Iran, within a few human generations villagers across the mountains in Bactria also sang of the flights of the simurgh. ❋ Unknown (2010)

And when at last the Oguz tribes of the Turks stormed westward, wielding their recurved bows and their sharpyatagansfrom the backs of quick little horses, seizing or destroying all before them, the simurgh also followed. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Some say the simurgh is an enormous bird with four wings, teeth, and a human face, able to carry off an elephant in her talons. ❋ Unknown (2010)

When the sun strikes her nest in the Tree of Life on the Qaf of Elburz Mountain, the simurgh stretches her neck and wings to shadow the valley below and then takes flight, the downdraft of those wings propelling the seeds of all the plants of the world to the places where they can grow. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The etymology of simurgh brought to mind Jack Handey's etymology of "mankind": the compound of "mank" + "ind". ❋ Unknown (2005)

Attar's work has been an inspiration for artists both classic and modern, not to mention a great jazz record by Dave Holland, and the simurgh inspired a great MonkeyFilter post by the quidnunc kid, which I urge you to visit for many more links, including some gorgeous illustrations and a long and involving Mandean tale about the bird's visit to the noble king Hirmiz Shah. ❋ Unknown (2005)

It comes back to him now, his wild anguished walk in the corrupt city, staring at the souls he had supposedly saved, looking at the simurgh-effigies, the devil-masks, the behemoths and hippogriffs. ❋ Rushdie, Salman (1967)