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Chalkydri

Chalkydri
Creature information
GroupingLegendary creature
Sub groupingHybrid

Chalkydri (Ancient Greek: χαλκύδραι khalkýdrai, compound of χαλκός khalkós "brass, copper" + ὕδρα hýdra "hydra", "water-serpent" — lit. "brazen hydras", "copper serpents") are mythical creatures mentioned in the apocryphal Second Book of Enoch (1st century CE), often considered an angelic species.[1][2] In the narrative, chalkydri dwell near the Sun, running its course around the Earth and bringing heat and dew. The chalkydri and phoenixes are described as creatures 900 measures in size, with the head of a crocodile, the feet and tail of a lion, twelve wings, and a coloration like the rainbow. Both are referred to as "flying elements of the Sun" in the Second Book of Enoch.[3][4] At sunrise, all chalkydri break into song with their counterparts, signalling the birds of the world to rejoice at the new day.[5]

The name is interpreted as a Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Nehushtan", the bronze serpent constructed by Moses to protect the Israelites from attacks by fiery flying serpents, and later destroyed by King Hezekiah as idolatrous.[6]

Similarities to the story of the chalkydri and phoenixes in the Second Book of Enoch appear in the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch, which recounts the story of Baruch seeing a large bird flying around the Sun said to guard the Earth, identified by an angel as a phoenix.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Davidson, Gustav. (1967). A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels. Entries: 'Chalkydri' (p. 84) and 'Phoenixes' (p. 224).
  2. ^ F.I. Andersen. (1983) 2 (Old Bulgarian Apocalypse of) Enoch, a new Translation and Introduction in ed. James Charlesworth The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol 1. p. 94. ISBN 0-385-09630-5.
  3. ^ Rutherford H. Platt, Jr. (1926). The Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden. Entry: The Book of the Secrets of Enoch, chapter XII.
  4. ^ Kulik, Alexander (2010). 3 Baruch: Greek-Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch. Page 250. De Gruyter. ISBN 9783110212488. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  5. ^ Louis Ginzberg. (1909). Legends of the Jews. Entry: The Creation of the World: The Sixth Day.
  6. ^ Scriptural Research Institute (10 June 2020). Enoch and Metatron Collection. Digital Ink Productions. ISBN 978-1-989852-29-3.
  7. ^ Wazana, Nili (January 1, 2009). "Anzu and Ziz: Great Mythical Birds in Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Rabbinic Traditions". Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society. 31 (1): 125–126.
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