R is for Roc
Hello!
Today’s creature is one I should have recognised – but didn’t immediately do so, perhaps because it’s also known by other names: the rukh and the rok.
Few creatures have inspired awe and wonder like the roc. The roc is an enormous bird of prey which resembles an eagle but is much larger. Its wingspan can blot out the sun and its feathers – which can be several colours including gold and silver – are said to be as long as palm leaves. Its powerful beak and talons are capable of crushing bones and uprooting trees. The roc is large enough and strong enough to fly off with an elephant.
The roc appears in a number of tales and accounts, such as in the Sinbad the Sailor stories in The Arabian Nights. It is this gigantic bird that saves Sinbad by flying him away from the diamond-filled valley. In the 13th century, Marco Polo too described the roc as a bird which was similar to an eagle but so enormous each quill was twelve paces long.
This creature evokes a sense of power and mystery wherever it appears. As a symbol of ultimate power and mystery, the roc challenges the boundaries of what is possible, inviting us to imagine a world where the skies are ruled by magnificent, otherworldly beings.
References: https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Roc ; https://mythologyvault.com/mythic-beings/creatures/roc-mythology-profile/
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Till next time! Wishing you a great two weeks with a good book!
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P.S. If you’ve read any of my novels, I would really, REALLY appreciate a review for the book/s, even if it’s not a great one! Ratings are also gratefully received. It really helps other fans of fantasy to decide whether to pick up the book or not.
