Discover the legend of Roc, a mythological eagle with multiple legends represented in many popular stories.
what is the Roc?
The Roc (also spelled “Rukh”, “Rokh”, or Ruc) is a huge, mythical bird, best known for its ability to pick up and feed on baby elephants. Legend has it that this monstrous creature also fed on humans; often tearing its prey apart and carrying it back to its nest to feed its young. Although the Roc is well known for its tendency to cause terror, many believe it acted as the protector of a vast secret valley full of treasures.
When many people think of a “giant mythological bird,” the first thought that comes to mind is usually the colorful and powerful Phoenix, or its relative, the Thunderbird. Well, what if you knew that there once existed a bird so large and sinister that its mere presence would cast shadows on the land beneath it, and that its flapping wings could create gusts of wind comparable to those of a cyclone? To this day, the Roc is the largest bird that has ever existed, according to ancient mythology.
Origin of the Roc
The legend of the Roc (a name derived from the Spanish words “rocho” and “ruc”) has been present in the mythology of a variety of different cultures, similar to the chimera but has been rumored to have originated in Asia around 39 A.D., specifically in and around India. Historians believe its origin is in this general area due to the discovery of ancient Indian Sanskrit epics that made reference to what was said to be a giant bird, large enough to pick up elephants.
Appearance
The Roc is described as being very similar to an eagle in general appearance, except that it is much larger and stronger. The Roc is classified in the “Bird” species and has a wingspan of 48 feet. The bird’s weight is unknown, but many historians believe it to have been significantly heavier than its prey (this includes large land mammals, primarily elephants). The Roc is generally described as eagle-like in color, mostly brown with hints of color, and a long, thin, forked snake-like tongue. It is also said to have had very sharp, pointed teeth, which extended through the lining of its huge beak.
Creatures Similar to Roc
The Roc has often been compared to a bald eagle in terms of appearance and temperament, but is significantly larger with a much greater wingspan. Other Roc-like creatures include birds such as the Simurgh, Garuda, Phoenix and Thunderbird.
Famous myths and tales
The mysterious and mythical Roc has been the subject of numerous stories of Eastern and Western descent over the years. One famous myth centers on the famous explorer Marco Polo. In fact, Marco Polo is credited with being the first Westerner to spot the mythical giant bird. It is said that during his travels to China in the 13th century, Marco Polo witnessed in midair what he described as a bird of “impossible size” swooping to land, picking up exceptionally large animals in its wake.
Legend has it that Marco described the alleged Roc as being much like an eagle but of greater size and strength. He is rumored to have stated that the bird would “seize an elephant in its talons and carry it aloft and throw it down to tear it to pieces; having thus killed it, the bird pounces upon it and eats it at its leisure.”
Another notable myth centered on Sinbad the Sailor and comes from the novel 1001 Arabian Nights. Rumor has it that during one of his famous voyages, the sailor and his crew accidentally wrecked their ship and a giant bird, believed to be the Roc, carried Sinbad to safety, placing him in what appeared to be the bird’s nest resting on the top of a mountain. While in the nest, Sinbad possibly stopped to eat a Roc egg.
Ship
Unfortunately, this caused the creature’s parents to become angry and destroy the crew’s ship by hurling giant stones at it from many feet in the air. This story is told throughout history in many different variations of mythological literature.
The story most commonly referred to in discussions of the history of the Roc originated in India and tells the story of a large bird that carried off an elephant that was fighting a crocodile. This story became well known throughout history, as did the theory that this giant bird took up residence on top of a giant mythical mountain, potentially in Madagascar.
