Simurgh is the modern Persian name for a mythical, benevolent flying creature found in all periods of Greater Iranian art and literature as well as in the iconography of medieval Armenia and Byzantium. The simurgh is depicted as a female, winged creature with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion. It is said to be large enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. According to Iranian legends, the bird is so old that it has seen the destruction of the world how many times? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary