The phoenix is a legendary bird from Egyptian mythology that symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and regeneration. It burns out at the end of its life and a new bird rises from the ashes. Its lifespan is 500 or 1461 years and it differs in appearance in different cultures. The phoenix is referenced in popular culture and is often used to represent cities or institutions that have experienced destruction and regrowth.
A phoenix is a legendary bird based in Egyptian mythology that burns out at the end of its life, followed by a new bird that rises from the ashes. It is also extremely long-lived and able to heal spontaneously, and the bird is a symbol of immortality, resurrection and regeneration. In antiquity it was incorporated into the mythologies of many cultures and in medieval times it became a symbol of Christ.
According to legends, the life span of a phoenix is 500 or 1461 years. It differs in appearance in different cultures, but the Egyptian version is gold and red, symbolic of fire. At the end of its life, the phoenix builds a nest of cinnamon sticks, sits in it, and spontaneously catches fire. After the entire nest is burned to ashes, a fully formed new bird is born. The new phoenix places the ashes in a myrrh egg and carries the remains to the ancient city of Heliopolis.
Other cultures have traditional firebirds that have informed the mythology of the phoenix, such as the Hindu Garuda and the Chinese Fenghuang. Some speculate that the Egyptian phoenix was actually a native African bird that built a raised nest for its eggs to protect them from the heat of the ground. The wavy lines around the nest created by the strong heat may have looked like fire. Alternatively, the myth could derive from the appearance of the sun during an eclipse, resembling a winged sphere. The disappearance and reappearance of the eclipsed sun mirrors the regeneration of the dying bird.
Today, references to the phoenix abound in popular culture. It remains a symbol of resurrection or rebirth and is often used to represent cities or institutions that have experienced some sort of destruction and regrowth. For example, in the United States, four cities that have suffered from wildfires feature the phoenix on their flags and seals: Atlanta, GA; San Francisco, Calif.; Lawrence, KS; and Portland, ME. The bird can be found in popular songs, literature, television and video games. Since ancient times, its mysterious and dramatic rebirth has inspired the public imagination.
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