Ziz

A fabulous bird in Jewish lore. It is as big as the Leviathan, and when it stands in the ocean, the waters only reach to its ankles and its head is in the clouds. When it unfurls its wings they darken the sun, but they also protect the earth against storms of the south. When one of its eggs fell to the ground, the fluid flooded sixty cities and the shock crushed three hundred cedar trees.

The bird is also known as Renanim, for it is the celestial singer. Another name is Sekwi, the seer. The Ziz is appointed to rule over the birds. Cp. roc.

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