Conference of the Birds by Fariduddin Attar - The simurgh is depicted in Iranian art as a winged creature. This giant birdlike creature is so old that it has seen the world destroyed three times over, and thus possesses the knowledge of all the ages.
Cinleri ve Tuhaf Yaratıkları Resmeden Muhammed el-Kazvînî'nin 23 İlginç Çizimi
Folio from a Aja-ib al-Makhluqat (Wonders of Creation) by al-Qazvini Author: Muhammad al-Qazvini, ca. Medium: Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
Who knew we'd have so many examples from medieval arts? Douai, Bibliothèque municipale, detail of f.