Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



impotent condition we meet so often in Ire- 

 land, where Conchobar or Fion is the victim, 

 or in Finland, where it is Lemminkainen or 

 Youkahainen. Rustem, the son of the Zal 

 who was nurtured by the Simurg, comes to 

 the assistance of his king and his heroes 

 and slays the White Deev, as Cuchullaind 

 rescues Conchobar or Fion. Now the reason 

 why the White Deev temporarily overcomes 

 the Persian king and heroes is the same 

 reason found in Ireland for the lethargy that 

 befalls Conchobar and the heroes of Ulster. 

 It is the woman's helplessness ; it is the cou- 

 vade ! I suspect the whole Kai dynasty of 

 Persia were bird heroes. Did not Kai Kaus 

 attach eagles to a car and attempt to reach 

 heaven by their aid ? 



But much earlier bird-god literature existed 

 on the Euphrates among the Akkads. The 

 " sin of the god Zu " was the stealing of some 

 talisman from the high gods Anu, Bel and 

 Rimmon, perhaps the sun itself, or maybe 

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