The annals of Ancient Egyptian king Thutmose III described a marvelous foreign bird that “gives birth daily.” Zoroastrians viewed them as spirits whose cries told of the cosmic struggle between darkness and light.
Romans brought them on their military campaigns to foretell the success of future battles.
And today, this bird still occupies an important, though much less honorable position – on our dinner plates.
The modern chicken is descended primarily from the Red Junglefowl, and partially from three other closely related species, all native to India and Southeast Asia.