Eagle

Eagles were considered a bird of omen in ancient Mediterranean cultures: an example of this is Valerius Maximus' report that King Deiotarus used the movements of birds to determine all his actions, and that the movement of an eagle caused him to refuse to stay in a house that had been prepared to him, which collapsed the next night. de Plancy, J. C., (1863). Dictionnaire Infernal. 6ed. pg.11
== Legends ==
Historically, scholars thought that eagles had magical powers. One such claim, in Les Admirables Secrets d'Albert le Grand, is that the dried brain of an eagle, if powdered and mixed with hemlock juice and eaten in a stew, causes those who have eaten it to tear out their hair and scratch at themselves until they have completely digested it. This was supposedly due to the heat of the eagle's brain, which causes hallucinations by blocking airflow and filling the head with smoke. 
== Alchemy ==
In the alchemical tradition, a number of compounds are known by a name including eagle:
* Celestial Eagle is essence of mercury, said to be able to cure anything.
* Eagle of Venus is a compound of verdigris and ammonium chloride, which form a saffron-like substance.
* Black Eagle is a compound of Cadmium which some consider to be the same as philosopher's mercury. 
== Further Reading ==
* Les Admirables Secrets d'Albert le Grand
== References ==
Category:Dictionnaire Infernal
Category:Animals