The Phoenix

The Phoenix

The phoenix has long been a symbol of the sun, immortality, undying love and loyalty. But what is this amazing creature really? Where did it come from? What can it really do?

This extraordinary creature does many magical things. Its tears have healing powers; it can appear and disappear at will; it can carry extraordinary weights; it sings and increases courage in the hearts of the pure and strikes fear into impure hearts. But the most amazing thing about the phoenix is that it is almost immortal. When old, the phoenix bursts into flames. Once all that is left is its ashes, a phoenix chick rises, ready to continue the cycle. This goes on for around five hundred years until the magnificent creature dies.

This usually red and gold swan sized bird has a golden tail, beak and talons. The phoenix is usually found on mountaintops in Egypt, India and China. Phoenixes originated in Egypt, but the word itself means both ‘purple’ and ‘date plum tree’ in Greek. Also, in Asia, along with the dragon, the unicorn and the tortoise, the phoenix is one of the four mystical creatures of great influence.

Back in Egypt, the phoenix was long ago said to be a large bird resembling a gray heron. The gray heron lives on the banks of the Red Sea. In the Persian Gulf area, archeologists found the remains of a larger heron that could have been seen by Egyptian travelers around five thousand years ago. This may have been the start of myths of the phoenix. During the flooding of the Nile, the phoenix was said to be on a high place and resemble the sun. Therefore, it was taken to be the soul of the Egyptian Sun God, Re, and was also associated with Heliopolis, the City of the Sun.

This amazing creature has fascinated many for centuries. Myths and legends, though most likely not true, amaze us still.

Sources:

The magical Worlds of Harry Potter: A Treasury of Myths, Legends, and Fascinating Facts by David Colbert

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

[url]http://www.egyptianmyths.net/phoenix.htm [/url]

http://www.livius.org/phi-php/phoenix/phoenix.html