3-056-522 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The simurgh leading an army of birds, c1610. The sandpipers sit on their nest on the water while the 'simurgh' leads the army of birds to their rescue. The simurgh is a mythical creature, related to the roc and the phoenix. It lives for up to 2000 years, and may even be immortal. It is said to have a nest in the Tree of Knowledge and is so old that it has seen the destruction of the world three times over. From the "'Anvar-i Suhail i", a modernised version of "Kali lah va Dimnah" by Husain Va'iz Kashifi'.