> the rook from the original game was a mythical bird of prey called Rukh/Roc. The chess piece was a bird. That doesn't seem to be the mainstream explanation:

> the rook from the original game was a mythical bird of prey called Rukh/Roc. The chess piece was a bird. That doesn't seem to be the mainstream explanation: the original piece in the game would be a chariot -thought the connection with the name rukh is not clear- and the alternative bird representation would have been an Arab innovation. ---- OF RUKHS AND ROOKS, CAMELS AND CASTLES https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Remke-Kruk/publication/259791395_Of_Rukhs_and_Rooks_Camels_and_Castles/links/619a6fde07be5f31b7a6ccd1/Of-Rukhs-and-Rooks-Camels-and-Castles.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Remke-Kruk/publication/...