The simurgh /sɪˈmɜːrɡ/; is a benevolent, mythical bird in Persian mythology and literature. The figure can be found in all periods of Persian art and literature and is also evident in the iconography of Georgia, medieval Armenia, the Eastern Roman Empire, and other regions that were within the realm of Persian cultural influence. The simurgh is depicted in Persian art as a winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. Persian legends consider the bird so old that it had seen the destruction of the world three times over. The simurgh learned so much by living so long that it is thought to possess the knowledge of all the ages. In one legend, the simurgh was said to live 1,700 years before plunging itself into flames (much like the phoenix).