The phoenix--a mighty bird, fiery and swift. They are described as having beautiful plumage, both colorful and glossy, and also have a flowing, mystical song unique to each species of phoenix. Another name for the phoenix is 'firebird'. Phoenixes are said to have power over fire and can burst into flame when it desired, leaving it at weakness only to water and lack of oxygen. For a demonstration of the power of a phoenix, watch The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the movie based off of C.S. Lewis's book (see the battle scene). Phoenixes cannot be burned, even when they are not in flame form. Their fire is magical, but never quite reaches the heat of dragonfire.
Phoenixes are special--At the mythical bird's last day, it builds a nest for itself, then burns into ashes. In the following moments, the phoenix rises reborn from the ashes as a hatchling or in an egg. It is also said in some stories that the phoenix gathers the ashes of its past life and embalms them in an egg made of myrrh, leaving it in the Egyptian city Heliopolis (sun-city). They are said to have a lifespan varying from the range of five to ten centuries. They are typically considered very benevolent, but can be hostile towards humans when their young are threatened. The number of eggs depends on what culture the phoenix is from. In some cultures, there is only one phoenix alive at a time, sort of like a reincarnation (Buddhism).
Phoenixes are special--At the mythical bird's last day, it builds a nest for itself, then burns into ashes. In the following moments, the phoenix rises reborn from the ashes as a hatchling or in an egg. It is also said in some stories that the phoenix gathers the ashes of its past life and embalms them in an egg made of myrrh, leaving it in the Egyptian city Heliopolis (sun-city). They are said to have a lifespan varying from the range of five to ten centuries. They are typically considered very benevolent, but can be hostile towards humans when their young are threatened. The number of eggs depends on what culture the phoenix is from. In some cultures, there is only one phoenix alive at a time, sort of like a reincarnation (Buddhism).
Phoenixes are portrayed differently in each culture. They are present in many books. One common example is Fawkes, from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. Fawkes' tears have healing properties, and his phoenix song is magical and very significant. In Rowling's wizarding world, phoenix tail feathers are used in wands. Fawkes has the ability to transport himself or people with him (see The Order of the Phoenix).
History--
Flavius Philostratus, the author of Life of Apollonius of Tyana, writes that the phoenix is a bird living in India, but migrating to Egypt every five centuries. His description of the phoenix was probably based off of the Hindu god Vishnu's bird, Garuda. He described it as being similar to an eagle, and an emanation of sunlight. Later, the phoenix became a symbol representing Christ Jesus in the Catholic religion (Jesus' birth, life and ministry, death, then resurrection). This might have come up because in Psalm 92:12, the word 'phoenix' appears. However, this actually meant a palm tree, so the reason is not completely justified.
The Egyptians had originally described the phoenix as being alike to a stork or a heron-like bird, a benu, found in the Book of the Dead, a set of scrolls about the afterlife they believed in. This was closely related to it being one of the sacred symbols of worship at Heliopolis, the rising sun, and the sun god Ra.
The Greeks pictured the phoenix more like an eagle or a peacock. The word 'phoenix' means the color purple-red or crimson (or palm tree!) in Greek. According to the old Greek mythology, the phoenix lived by a well. At dawn, it would bathe in the well, and the sun god Helios would stop his chariot to listen to its beautiful song.
In Persian mythology, they had a bird-like creature called a Simurgh. It possessed a long tail and was ancient, the stuff of legends. In Farid un-Din Affar's Conference of the Birds, the phoenix is the leader of the birds. In Ferdowsi's epic [poem], Shahnameh (the Book of the Kings), Zaal son of Rostam was raised by Simurgh.
In Lebanon and Beirut, it is depicted symbolically as a phoenix bird destroyed and reborn seven times in its history.
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| A Final Fantasy phoenix (say that five times fast) |
In China, the Fhenghuang is a bird similar to the phoenix. It is the second most replicated creature, just under the dragon. It was used to represent the empress and just females in general, and was used as a counterpart to the dragon, which was seen as the emperor or male figure. It is considered the greatest of all birds.
In Japan, it's called 鳳凰, prounounced 'hoe-oh' (yes, like the pokemon), or 不死鳥, prounounced 'foosh-ee-cho', and bearing the meaning, "Immortal bird".
Koreans call the bird Bonghwangsae (see the Wiki page below for actual Korean letters, Blogspot won't take them without a fight) or Bulsajo, meaning, "Never dying bird".
Arabian tradition portrays it as Ghoghnous or Ghoghnus, a bird having mythical relation to the date palm. It is said to have laid only one egg, and lived in the Arabian Desert millenia ago.
In Turkey, the phoenix is called Zumrud-u Anka, including two other names that Blogspot also won't accept for some reason.
In Hebrew tradition, it is called Zid, and is portrayed as a pure white bird, legendary, and the protector of all birds.
In the Philippines, it is called Adarna.
In India, it's called Avalerion (awesome, am I right?), and in Ancient India, it was called Garuda.
Finnish folklore sees it as a mythical bird of iron and fire named Kokko.
The constellation Phoenix was introduced in the late 16th century by sailors led by Petrus Plancidus.
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Fanart of Ho-Oh flying over the Bell Tower (Not by us)
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This post was written by BlackSheik!
Sources--
•Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling
• Primarily from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(mythology)
Picture Sources--
•https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgeoAcqHCyB9wrbyXweA3a5IPHftHHt4ExF2Pmtrd7xfEyV44P-ecKDebpRTcXVdv04nBCRzUOu6ofAJ5F9Dvzp7E8hCsyhv5PwepiKdKSq9abVXT4UA26yQ8xC42rL7A96u0VJNSWDI/s1600/phoenix0.jpg
•http://files.myopera.com/firepro/albums/797705/ho-oh%20drawing.jpg
•http://images.elfwood.com/art/a/n/annarene/phoenix.jpg
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