Rooster

Rooster is one the most sacred birds in ancient Iran. According to the Avesta rooster is the dog's "co-worker." It helps dogs in guarding and protecting the house. The ancient Zoroastrians thought roosters had the power to fight sorcerers. They also believed that when a rooster crowed, it killed the demons, which had come to harm newborn babies.

The Avesta says roosters help Sraosha, a pre-Zoroastrian god of the afterlife. This bronze pin from 1000 BC shows Sraosha as a rooster.

Roosters were first domesticated in Southeast Asia. Historians believe that the Chinese used chickens and roosters for food as far back as 1400 BC. Persians probably first became familiar with roosters around 1000 BC. Roosters were eaten in large banquets in ancient Persia.

Indians were among the first people who used the roosters for their entertainment. They trained two roosters to fight with each other. These "cockfights" were also popular with the ancient Persians. This Persian seal from fifth century BC shows a cockfight.

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