Phoenix

Queen Telephassa (“far-shining”)

In Greek mythology, Telephassa was the consort of King Agenor of Tyre and mother to Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix.

In certain accounts, Telephassa is referred to as the spouse of Phoenix, with Cadmus and Europa as their offspring.

Research

Europa: A Phoenician Princess

Some versions, such as the Iliad, present Europa as the daughter of Phoenix, son of Agenor.

The author of Bibliotheke adds Phoenix as a third brother, suggesting that Phoenix named his children after his siblings.

Frederick S. Oliver

A nation of 85 million people

This little experience was the beginning of a longer one which, while very sweet for a length of time, culminated in anguish there in Atlantis and, phoenix-like, arose from the ashes of the dead centuries, only a few short years ago.

Philo, of Byblos

The Phoenician history

They, in turn, intending to magnify the delusion in every way, handed them on to their successors and to the aliens, one of whom was Eisirios, inventor of the three scripts, brother of Chna, the first to change his name to Phoenix.

Mythical

Phoenix

The phoenix's life cycle illustrates the idea of cyclical rebirth and transformation.

A phoenix is a mythical bird known for its cycle of death and rebirth, featuring prominently in various mythologies, particularly those of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and later in medieval European folklore.

The phoenix is often described as a large, magnificent bird with vibrant plumage, typically in shades of red, gold, purple, and blue.

The most distinctive feature of the phoenix is its life cycle.

According to legend, the phoenix lives for several hundred years (estimates vary from 500 to 1,000 years).

As its end approaches, the phoenix builds a nest of aromatic wood and sets it on fire.

Both the nest and the bird burn fiercely, reducing to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix rises, reborn to live again.

The phoenix's ability to rise from its ashes made it a symbol of resurrection and eternal life.

This concept was especially embraced by early Christians, who saw the phoenix as an allegory for the resurrection of Christ and the promise of eternal life after death.

The phoenix's rebirth signifies hope and the idea that from destruction and decay, new life can emerge.

In many traditions, the phoenix is associated with the sun, given its cycle of death and rebirth that parallels the daily setting and rising of the sun.

The ancient Egyptians linked the phoenix with their sun god, Ra, and the city of Heliopolis, where it was said the bird would come to rest and be reborn.

The phoenix is often depicted as a solitary bird, the only one of its kind.

The Bennu bird, an ancient Egyptian deity, is often considered a precursor to the Greek and Roman phoenix.

The fenghuang, often conflated with the western phoenix, is a symbol of the empress, virtue, and grace, representing the union of yin and yang.

The earliest known phoenix design dates back 7,000–8,000 years, discovered at the Gaomiao Archaeological Site in Hunan Province.

The first dragon-phoenix design dates to the Yangshao culture (c.

During the Shang dynasty, phoenix and dragon images were popular as burial objects, with several jade phoenix and dragon artifacts unearthed from Shang dynasty tombs.

Herodotus, Ovid, and Pliny the Elder wrote about the phoenix, describing its life cycle and symbolic meanings.

Herodotus, Ovid, and Pliny the Elder are three prominent ancient writers who described the phoenix and its life cycle.

In his work Histories (Book II), Herodotus provides one of the earliest accounts of the phoenix.

According to Herodotus, the phoenix is remarkable for its beautiful, colorful plumage.

He narrates that when the phoenix's time of death approaches, it builds a nest of aromatic wood and sets it on fire.

The bird then perishes in the flames, and from its ashes, a new phoenix arises.

The young phoenix then carries the remains of its predecessor to Heliopolis and deposits them on the altar of the sun god.

In Egypt, there is a certain sacred bird called the phoenix.

According to the Egyptian accounts, the phoenix is a large bird with golden and red plumage, and it bears some resemblance to an eagle.

The story goes that the phoenix travels from Arabia to Egypt carrying its deceased parent encased in a ball of myrrh.

The phoenix places this ball on the altar of the Sun in Heliopolis, an ancient city in Egypt dedicated to the worship of the sun god.

As part of the ritual, the phoenix sets its nest of aromatic wood on fire.

As the flames consume the nest, the old phoenix is consumed and a new phoenix is born from the ashes.

This young phoenix then takes up the remains of its parent and flies to Heliopolis to deposit the remains on the sun god’s altar.

Ovid, a Roman poet who lived in the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE, included the story of the phoenix in his magnum opus, Metamorphoses (Book XV).

He describes the phoenix as an eternal bird that lives for 500 years.

At the end of its life, the phoenix builds a nest of spices and aromatic plants, where it dies and decomposes.

From its body, a new phoenix emerges, perpetuating the cycle of death and rebirth.

Ovid's account emphasizes the symbolism of the phoenix as a metaphor for eternal life and the cyclical nature of time.

In the latter part of Metamorphoses, Ovid describes the phoenix in the context of the broader theme of transformation and the eternal nature of change.

According to Ovid, the phoenix is a unique and solitary bird, living in the remote lands of Arabia.

Unlike other creatures, the phoenix lives a remarkably long life, lasting hundreds of years—traditionally said to be 500 years.

When the phoenix feels the end of its life approaching, it builds a nest from the branches of the aromatic myrrh tree, and other fragrant spices like cinnamon and nard.

Once the nest is completed, the phoenix lies down in it and, with the heat of the sun, the spices and the bird itself ignite in flames.

The old phoenix is consumed by the fire, and from its ashes, a new phoenix is born.

This young phoenix is destined to live as long as its predecessor.

The newly reborn phoenix then gathers the ashes of its parent into an egg made of myrrh and flies to the temple of the sun god in Heliopolis, Egypt.

There, the phoenix places the egg on the altar as a tribute to the sun god.

Through this process, the phoenix perpetuates its own existence, symbolizing the cycle of death and rebirth, and the unending continuity of life.

Pliny the Elder, a Roman author and natural philosopher, wrote about the phoenix in his Natural History (Book X, Chapter 2).

He recounts that the phoenix is native to Arabia and has a lifespan of 500 years.

When it is time for the phoenix to die, it builds a nest of frankincense, myrrh, and other fragrant materials.

As the old phoenix dies, a new one emerges from its body.

Pliny also mentions that the young phoenix embalms its predecessor in an egg made of myrrh and flies with it to Heliopolis, where it places the egg on the altar of the sun god.

Pliny's account, while incorporating elements of natural history, also underscores the mystical and religious significance of the phoenix.

Pliny the Elder describes the phoenix as a remarkable and unique bird native to Arabia.

According to Pliny, the phoenix is celebrated for its extraordinary life cycle, which spans several centuries—typically believed to be 500 years.

Pliny notes that only one phoenix exists at any given time.

When the phoenix senses that its end is near, it undertakes an incredible journey to renew itself.

These fragrant substances form a bed for the phoenix as it prepares for its demise.

Once the nest is complete, the old phoenix lies down in it and succumbs to death.

However, from the decaying body of the old bird, a new phoenix emerges.

This young phoenix, born from the remains of its predecessor, represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Pliny also mentions a particular aspect of the phoenix's life cycle involving the transportation of the remains of the old bird.

The newly reborn phoenix fashions an egg from myrrh, into which it encloses the ashes of its parent.

The young phoenix then flies to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis, known as the "City of the Sun," and places the myrrh egg on the altar of the sun god.

Pliny’s account is not only a natural history observation but also a reflection on the mythical and symbolic significance of the phoenix.

The phoenix has been a powerful symbol throughout history, embodying themes such as:

Resurrection and Renewal: The phoenix’s ability to rise from its ashes makes it a symbol of resurrection and the renewal of life.

Immortality: The seemingly endless cycle of the phoenix’s life and death symbolizes immortality and the eternal nature of the soul.

Transformation and Change: The phoenix’s life cycle is a metaphor for personal transformation, growth, and the ability to overcome adversity and emerge stronger.

These ancient descriptions and symbolic interpretations have cemented the phoenix’s place in myth and legend, making it one of the most enduring symbols of regeneration and hope.

The phoenix is a legendary bird that, according to mythology, lives for 500 to 1,000 years.

At the end of its life cycle, the phoenix creates a nest, ignites it, and is consumed by the flames, reducing itself to ashes.

From these ashes, a new phoenix emerges, symbolizing rebirth, renewal, and eternity.

The phoenix's life cycle illustrates the idea of cyclical rebirth and transformation.

Ultimately, the phoenix symbolizes the perpetual process of self-reinvention, illustrating how one can use past experiences as a foundation for future growth, continually ascending and evolving.

Chinese

Pangu Creation Story

He was aided by the Four Holy Beasts (四靈獸): the Turtle, the Qilin, the Phoenix, and the Dragon.

the Phoenix, embodying rebirth and renewal, signified transformation;

Illustrations of P'an-Ku represent him in the company of supernatural animals that symbolize old age or immortality, viz., the tortoise and the crane; sometimes also the dragon, the emblem of power, and the phoenix, the emblem of bliss.

Numerology

the Four Holy Beasts (四靈獸), the Turtle, the Qilin, the Phoenix, and the Dragon.

Nag Hammadi Codex I

The third Adam is earthly

She sent the bird that was in paradise so that, until the consummation of the age, it might spend the thousand years in the rulers’ world: a vital living being with soul, called the phoenix, which kills itself and reanimates itself for a witness to their judgment, because they dealt unjustly with Adam and his race.

Just as the phoenix appears as a witness for the angels, so too the water serpents in Egypt have become a witness to those who go down for the baptism of a true person.

And the worm that is brought forth from the phoenix is also a human being.

It is written of it, “The just will sprout like the phoenix.” The phoenix first appears alive, and dies, and rises again, as a sign of what appears at the consummation of the age.

Gnostic

The Origin of the World

Sophia Zoe, in anger over the rulers' cursing of her companions, chases the rulers from their heavens and sends the phoenix to witness their judgment.