Phoenix the bird is a mythical fire bird. The myth comes from many different sources and is still interpreted differently in contemporary stories. There are several logical explanations of how people might have thought they saw a bird burst into flames, but no one will ever really know the true story of the Phoenix.
What is Phoenix the Bird?
Phoenix the bird may just be a master of illusion. From the stories that have been told, there is a bird that lives for 500 years. When his life is coming close to an end, he builds a nest out of cinnamon, twigs and other sweet smelling materials, sits atop of it and lights himself on fire. Once he burns to ashes, he has an amazing power to be able to renew himself. Out of the dusty ash an egg appears. Three days after the death of the ancient bird, he is replaced with a refreshed version of himself. The bird lives again and is reborn. The other part of the myth is that only one Phoenix could ever exist at one time, making it a miracle that a baby bird could be conceived.
Description of Phoenix the Bird
Though descriptions of Phoenix the bird vary by cultural adaptation, the most common description tells us that the bird was beautiful with gold and red plumage and large wings. He supposedly had a purple body, gold feathers in a crest at the neck and a cluster of feathers that topped his head. He was said to be a cross between a heron and an eagle. Interpretation of Phoenix the bird helped it to take on different shapes and meanings though. Some thought of the Phoenix as a female with a burning desire. Some saw it as a good luck charm, while others saw it as a fearful thing that blocked the sun. Egyptians saw it as a sacred bird that was a symbol of eternity.
Connecting Phoenix the Bird with Christianity
Though Phoenix the bird really has nothing to do with God or faith, it has been linked to Christianity because of the common theme of resurrection and life-after-death. Phoenix the bird is said to have the same ability as Jesus did to wake from the dead and be reborn. For this reason, Phoenix the bird became a popular symbol in early Christian art.
