ʿAnqāʾ Mughrib: The Poetics of a Mythical Creature

Abstract In early Arabic literature, ʿAnqāʾ Mughrib is the name of the quintessential mythical bird. The ʿAnqāʾ appears in a myriad of medieval sources of different genres: poetical, narrative, proverbial, scientific, philosophical, and mystical. This paper draws attention to the multiple ways in wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Abbasid Studies
Main Author: Ron-Gilboa, Guy (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2021
In: Journal of Abbasid Studies
Further subjects:B Translation
B Intertextuality
B mythical creatures
B Fictionality
B Allegory
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Summary:Abstract In early Arabic literature, ʿAnqāʾ Mughrib is the name of the quintessential mythical bird. The ʿAnqāʾ appears in a myriad of medieval sources of different genres: poetical, narrative, proverbial, scientific, philosophical, and mystical. This paper draws attention to the multiple ways in which this bird was represented and the functions it fulfilled in different literary contexts. It explores the intricate web of quotations, allusions, and literary innovations that facilitated its multifarious uses and re-uses. I explore the various manifestations of the ʿAnqāʾ to demonstrate the different and at times contradictory meanings ascribed to it and its diverse literary functions: as a creature of speculative zoology; as metaphor of scarcity or non-existence; as a metaphor of God; as a marker of fictionality; and more.
ISSN:2214-2371
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of Abbasid Studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/22142371-12340067