Phoenix is an amazing bird that exists in the myths of different peoples, separated from each other by space and time: Egypt and China, Japan, Phoenicia, Greece and Russia. Everywhere this bird is associated with the sun. Chinese feng shui master Lam Kam Chuen wrote: “This is a mythical bird that never dies. The phoenix flies far ahead and is always surveying the entire landscape that opens up in the distance. This represents our ability to see and collect visual information about the environment and events unfolding within it. The great beauty of the Phoenix creates powerful excitement and immortal inspiration.”
Where the Phoenix originated
Ancient man always thought about death and what will happen after it. The Egyptians built monumental stone pyramids for mummies that were to enter eternity. Therefore, it is quite natural that along the entire Upper and Lower Egypt there were legends about the bird Bennu (as the Egyptians called the phoenix), which, having died, is reborn again. Phoenix is a bird full of secrets.
In Egypt, Bennu was represented as a great heron that lived for about five thousand yearsback in the Persian Gulf and was a rare guest with the Egyptians. On his head they depicted two long feathers or a solar disk. Sacred with beautiful red and golden plumage, the bird of Heliopolis was represented as the soul of the sun god Ra. In addition, the cry of the bird Bennu marked the beginning of time. That is, the Phoenix is time and fire that cannot be held.
Classic Arabic Phoenix
The most famous was the Arabian Phoenix, known to us from Greek sources. This fabulous mythical bird had the size of an eagle. She had brilliant scarlet and gold plumage and a melodious voice.
Settling down at the well every morning at dawn, she sang a song so charming that even the great Apollo stopped to listen.
Phoenix's life was very long. According to some sources, he lived for five hundred, according to others - a thousand, or even almost thirteen thousand years. When his life was drawing to a close, he would build a nest for himself out of branches of fragrant myrrh and fragrant sandalwood, set it on fire and burn. Three days later, this bird, rising from the ashes, was reborn young. According to other legends, she appeared directly from the flame.
A young phoenix embalmed the ashes of his predecessor into an egg and carried it to Heliopolis on the altar of the sun god.
Phoenix is a victory over death and a cyclical rebirth.
Chinese Phoenix (Fenghuang)
In Chinese mythology, the Phoenix is a symbol of high virtue and grace, power and prosperity. It is a combination of yin and yang. It was believed that thisa gentle creature descending so softly that it did not press anything, but ate only dewdrops.
Phoenix represented the power sent from heaven only to the Empress.
If the Phoenix (image) was used to decorate the house, it symbolized that loy alty and honesty were in the people who lived there. Jewelry with the image of this bird showed that the owner was a person of high moral values, and therefore only a very important person could wear them.
The Chinese Phoenix is supposed to have had the beak of a rooster, the face of a swallow, the neck of a snake, the chest of a goose, and the tail of a fish. Its feathers were of the five primary colors of black, white, red, green and yellow and were said to represent the Confucian virtues of loy alty, honesty, decency and justice.
Traditional legend of the Phoenix bird
Only one Phoenix at a time could live in our world. His true home was Paradise, a land of unimaginable beauty that lay beyond the distant horizon towards the rising sun.
It's time to die. To do this, the fiery bird Phoenix had to fly into the mortal world, flying west through the jungles of Burma and the hot plains of India, to reach the fragrant aromatic groves of Arabia. Here she collected a bunch of aromatic herbs before heading for the coast of Phoenicia in Syria. In the highest branches of a palm tree, the Phoenix built a nest of herbs and waited for the new dawn to come, which would herald his death.
When the sun soared overthe horizon, Phoenix turned his face to the east, opened the account of time and sang such a bewitching song that even the sun god himself for a moment stood on his chariot. Hearing the sweet sounds, he set the horses in motion, and the spark from their hooves descended into the Phoenix's nest and set it on fire. Thus, the thousand-year life of the Phoenix ended in a fire. But in the ashes of the funeral pyre, a tiny worm stirred.
Three days later, the creature grew into a brand new Phoenix bird, which then spread its wings and flew east to the gates of Paradise with a retinue of birds. The Phoenix bird, rising from the ashes, represents the sun itself, which dies at the end of each day, but is reborn at the next dawn. Christianity took the legend of the bird, and the authors of the bestiaries equated it with Christ, who was executed, but rose again.
From the Egyptian Book of the Dead
What is the significance of the Phoenix bird in mythology? Generation after generation Phoenix creates itself. It's never easy. He waited for long nights, lost himself, looking at the stars. The bird fights against darkness, against its own ignorance, against change, against its sentimental love for its own stupidity.
Perfection is a difficult task. The Phoenix loses and finds its way again. One of the tasks being performed gives rise to others. There is no end to the work to be done. This is a harsh eternity. There is no end to becoming. The fiery bird lives forever, striving for perfection. She praises the moment she dies in the fire whenthe veils of illusion burn away with it. Phoenix sees how much we strive for Truth. She is the fire that burns in people who know the truth.
The role of the Phoenix in various ancient judgments
According to Greek views, the Phoenix is a symbol of renewed life.
The Romans believed that this bird showed that the Roman Empire was of divine origin and should last forever.
For Christians, Phoenix means eternal life, symbolizing Christ.
Alchemists viewed the Phoenix as the completion of the philosopher's stone. But they never got to that point.
