Roc
Also known as: Rukhkh, Rukh, Al-Rukhkh, Ruk
An eagle the size of a cargo plane, strong enough to carry elephants, described by sailors who crossed the Indian Ocean.
9th century (One Thousand and One Nights)
Arabian Peninsula / Indian Ocean
Wingspan reportedly 40-50+ feet
Territorial, predatory
Mythological
The Lore
The Roc is a colossal raptor from Persian and Arabian mythology, made famous by Sinbad the Sailor and Marco Polo's travel accounts. Described as large enough to blot out the sun, it reportedly carried elephants in its talons and dropped them to feed. Sightings cluster around Madagascar, the Indian Ocean islands, and the Arabian Peninsula. Some researchers connect it to the real Aepyornis, the now-extinct elephant bird of Madagascar, whose 3-foot eggs survived into the modern era.
Notable Witnesses
- Marco Polo (claimed secondhand account)
- Ibn Battuta (referenced in travels)
Media Appearances
- One Thousand and One Nights
- The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
- Dungeons & Dragons
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