are phoenix bird still alive

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Appearances edit

The phoenix appeared at the end of each Great Year, according to Pliny the Elder, who wrote of “in the consulship of Gnaeus Cornelius and Publius Licinius,” that is, in 96 BC. He also stated that a cycle was 540 years long and that it was 215 into the cycle (i.e., e. it began in 311 BC). [25] Cornelius Valerianus, another of Pliny’s sources, mentions the phoenix making an appearance in 36 AD “in the consulship of Quintus Plautius and Sextus Papinius.” [25] Pliny claims that, despite the fact that “nobody would doubt that this phoenix was a fabrication,” a supposedly authentic phoenix that was spotted in Egypt in 47 AD was transported to the capital and displayed in the Comitium in time for Romulus’ 800th anniversary of the founding of Rome. [25].

Tacitus describes the phoenix in a second account, stating that it first appeared in the reigns of Sesosis, Amasis, and Ptolemy (the third of the Macedonian dynasty) in 34 AD “in the consulship of Paulus Fabius and Lucius Vitellius” and that the cycle was either 500 years or 1461 years (which was the Great Year based on the Egyptian Sothic cycle). [28] Cassius Dio made a third recording, in which he also reported seeing the phoenix during Quintus Plautus and Sextus Papinius’s consulships. [29].

Early texts edit

A fragment of the Precepts of Chiron, attributed to the Greek poet Hesiod in the eighth century BC, contains the earliest known mention of the phoenix in ancient Greek literature, aside from the Linear B mention from Mycenaean Greece mentioned above. The sage centaur Chiron imparts the following knowledge to the youthful hero Achilles in the fragment,[clarification needed][8] stating that the phoenix’s lifetime is 972 times longer than that of a long-lived human:

The Phoenix Through the Ages

Deciphering the phoenix legend is more difficult than it first appears. Most people have heard of the fabled bird because it is so deeply ingrained in our culture, but nobody seems to know much about it. Oh, yeah, it’s that bird that burns up and rises from the ashes, just like in the Harry Potter books. Dusty library reference books and slick new websites don’t really offer much more. A succinct entry even stated: “The phoenix has such a rich history that its tale deserves a book all its own.” ”.

Enter Joseph Nigg, perhaps the world’s sole phoenix scholar. Known as the Joseph Campbell of fantastical animals, he is the author of The Book of Fabulous Beasts: A Treasury of Writing from Ancient Times to the Present. When I called Nigg’s house, he was working on chapter 19 of his book about the phoenix.

The story of the phoenix was first recorded in Western culture over 2,500 years ago by the Greeks, but

gan in ancient Egypt and Arabia. The mythical bird is supposed to live for at least 500 years, and when it gets old, it is said to fly from Arabia to land in Heliopolis, Egypt, also known as the “City of the Sun.” There, it gathers resin and cinnamon twigs to construct a spice nest atop the Temple of the Sun. The ancient phoenix burns to death when the sun ignites the nest. From the ashes, a young, new phoenix rises, taking its wings and returning to Arabia to begin a new life cycle. Although the bird’s appearance has evolved over time, most people still believe it to be an eagle-like bird with brilliant red, golden, and purple plumes.

The story could have originated from the Egyptian Benu, a revered bird mentioned in the Book of the Dead that is connected to the sun god Ra and appears like a heron in hieroglyphics. Alternatively, it could have been misinterpreted by eager Egyptologists as a cousin. In a Hesiod riddle, the phoenix, a Greek word meaning “reddish-purple,” appears first. Themes of longevity and time imply that people attempting to solve the riddle were already familiar with the bird.

The Greek historian Herodotus is recognized for having brought the phoenix legend to Western culture following his travels in Egypt, despite the fact that he lived two centuries later. Herodotus describes many new and amazing creatures in his well-known Histories (written in the fifth century BCE), such as the crocodile, hippopotamus, and phoenix. When Herodotus arrives in Heliopolis, he speaks with the temple priests and remarks, “I have only ever seen pictures of their other sacred bird, the phoenix.” Indeed, it is a great rarity, even in Egypt. They describe what this bird does, but I don’t think their account is very plausible. This ancient Greek representation of the phoenix lacks fire.

Like all legends, details in tales of the phoenix vary. Its lengthy life span, for example, can reach 500 years, 540 years, or even 1,461 years (the astronomical equivalent of the Egyptian Sophic year). Some tales claim the phoenix has magical healing powers. Pliny the Elder, a different Greek historian, mocked medical professionals who advocated applying phoenix ashes to wounds. “He makes fun of it,” Nigg remarks, before posing the question, “How can you rely on a cure that is only available once every 500 years?”

Romans loved the phoenix. Their coins had the phoenix on one side and the emperor’s head on the other. “The phoenix symbolized Rome itself, the empire’s eternal nature, and how it returns with every new emperor,” according to Nigg.

However, the phoenix flourished in early Christian Europe even as Rome started to decline. Given that it conveyed a message of rebirth and eternal life, popes like St. Clement (96 AD) used the phoenix to prove Jesus’s resurrection. Throughout the Middle Ages, monks did not distinguish between God’s marvelous creations—real or imagined—by including phoenixes in their bestiaries. The phoenix was a well-liked Renaissance symbol for queens like Elizabeth I and martyrs like Joan of Arc. Nigg asserts that “this is the phoenix’s greatest period.” “Why not? With a word like ‘renaissance,’ a time.

of rebirth and learning, you definitely have his time.”

The phoenix is strongly associated with Christianity, but it also makes a fleeting appearance in Jewish tradition. According to the Talmud, because the phoenix (Hol) refused to eat the forbidden apple, it was the only animal permitted to remain in the Garden of Eden. God granted the bird immortality for its obedience.

The phoenix is frequently associated with legendary birds from around the world, including what Nigg refers to as 
phoenix counterparts” like the Russian firebird (Zhar-ptitsa), the Chinese Feng Huang, and the Persian Simurg. These birds arose from their own local.

folklore. Sibelan Forrester, a Russian professor at Swarthmore, claims that two mythical birds are found in Slavic folklore: Finist the Bright Falcon, whose name is derived from the Greek phoenix, and the traditional firebird, which is the main character in Stravinsky’s ballet.

At least 7,000 years ago, the Chinese phoenix, known as Feng Huang (Ho-o in Japan), evolved into a distinct bird species. Through the translation of Chinese classics by Scottish sinologist James Legge in the 1800s, this celestial fowl became intertwined with the Western phoenix. Despite the fact that the Eastern bird lacks fire, never dies (therefore never being reborn), and resembles a pheasant, his word choice endures. Its very name, with “feng” denoting male and “huang” denoting female, symbolizes the union of yin and yang. The phoenix symbolizes the empress and the dragon, when paired together, the emperor. This fortunate couple also represents harmony and good fortune for the husband and wife.

The hazy prehistoric era is where both the Eastern and Western phoenix legends originate. Some claim that distant memories of the extinct Asian ostrich are the source of the Chinese tale. Heat waves in Egypt may have inspired the story because of a prehistoric flamingo.

from the warm salt flats where it laid its eggs, possibly implying a fire nest.

However, the phoenix enjoys a contemporary rebirth as a mascot, logo, and fairytale, just like its legend. Not just Swarthmore is looking for a sign of hope and new life following a devastating fire. The phoenix has been adopted by a number of cities and institutions, including Atlanta, San Francisco, London, Chicago, and Coventry, England. Its namesake, Phoenix, Ariz. serves as a reminder to contemporary Americans that the city is located on the same site as a Native American civilization that has disappeared.

According to Nigg, the enduring nature of phoenix lore can be attributed to renewal and hope for rebirth. I think it deals with hope. ”.

Heather Shumaker (’91) was a conservationist for a nonprofit land trust in Michigan before going freelance two years ago. She is a mother of two young boys and has contributed articles to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Journal, Traverse, Parenting, Organic Gardening, and Pregnancy magazines. She states that her most recent Halloween costume was a phoenix, which was motivated by her research for her current Bulletin article.

FAQ

Does Phoenix bird still exist?

The phoenix is a mythological bird that never technically dies because it is reborn out of its ashes. It’s a figment of the Greek mythology, I think, where The Phoenix was a God”s son, and also has a constellation for himself.

How long does phoenix live?

The fabled bird is said to live 500 years or more, and when the old bird is tired, it flies from Arabia to land in Heliopolis, Egypt, the “City of the Sun.” There, it gathers cinnamon twigs and resin to build a nest of spices atop the Temple of the Sun.

What happens if a phoenix dies?

Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. Some legends say it dies in a show of flames and combustion, while others that it simply dies and decomposes before being born again.

How many phoenixes are there?

Only one phoenix exists at a time, and so when the bird felt its death was near, every 500 to 1,461 years, it would build a nest of aromatic wood and set it on fire. The bird then was consumed by the flames. A new phoenix sprang forth from the pyre.