The Roc (Rukh) is a legendary bird of incredible proportions in Arabian folklore. So massive that when it spreads its wings it blocks out the sun, and it can carry elephants in its talons. It appears most strikingly in Sinbad’s adventures in One Thousand and One Nights.
During his second voyage, Sinbad discovers the Roc’s egg on a deserted island — a white dome the size of a building. He escapes the island by tying himself to the bird’s leg. Even Marco Polo’s travelogues mention the Roc bird, showing how widespread this legend was among Indian Ocean sailors.
