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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Kars and Ani and some Hopa >> Ani - former Armenian capital near border >> Church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents >> Frescos in Tigran church > Ani Tigran Honents church 8 Interior Simurghs fresco 3666
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08-Jun-2006

Ani Tigran Honents church 8 Interior Simurghs fresco 3666

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These are simurghs (Simorghs?). The panel is above a door to the right in pcture 5569. The Wikipedia seems well-informed with: "The mythical Simurgh or Simorgh is depicted in Iranian art as a winged creature in the shape of a bird gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a camel. It appears as a kind of peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion; sometimes it is shown with a human face. The Simorgh was also called Siræng "Thirty Colors" because it is thought to have thirty different colors on its body, making it quite beautiful. Because it is part mammal, the Simorgh suckled its young - and also has teeth. It has an enmity towards snakes and its natural habitat is a place with plenty of water. According to Attar, the Simorgh has thirty holes in her beak and flew the wind through them whenever she was hungry. Animals heard a pretty music and gathered at the peak of mountain where they were eaten by the Simorgh. In one ancient Iranian account, the Simorgh was said to live 1700 years before plunging itself into flames; in later accounts, it is immortal and is said to have a nest in the Tree of Knowledge. According to Iranian legend, it is said that this bird is so old that it has seen the destruction of the world three times over. Simorgh learned so much by living that long that it is thought to possess the knowledge of all ages.

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