Chalkydri ( khalkýdrai, compound of khalkós "brass, copper" + 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.Davidson, Gustav. (1967). A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels. Entries: 'Chalkydri' (p. 84) and 'Phoenixes' (p. 224).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. . 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.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.Kulik, Alexander (2010). 3 Baruch: Greek-Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch. Page 250. De Gruyter. . Retrieved 22 August 2024. At sunrise, all chalkydri break into song with their counterparts, signalling the birds of the world to rejoice at the new day.Louis Ginzberg. (1909). Legends of the Jews. Entry: The Creation of the World: The Sixth Day.
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.
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.
See also List of angels in theology
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