Relation to the Egyptian BennuĬlassical discourse on the subject of the phoenix points to a potential origin of the phoenix in Ancient Egypt. In spite of these folk etymologies, with the deciphering of the Linear B script in the 20th century, the original Greek φοῖνιξ was decisively shown to be derived from Mycenaean Greek po-ni-ke, itself open to a variety of interpretations. Because the costly purple dye from Phoenicia was associated with the upper classes in antiquity and, later, with royalty, in the medieval period the phoenix was considered 'the royal bird'. A late antique etymology offered by the 6th- and 7th-century CE archbishop Isidore of Seville accordingly derives the name of the phoenix from its allegedly purple-red hue. In ancient Greece and Rome, the bird, phoenix, was sometimes associated with the similar-sounding Phoenicia, a civilization famous for its production of purple dye from conch shells. The Classical Latin phoenīx represents Greek φοῖνιξ phoinīx. Old English fēnix was borrowed from Medieval Latin phenix, which is derived from Classical Latin phoenīx. The modern English noun phoenix derives from Middle English phenix (before 1150), itself from Old English fēnix (around 750). In the historical record, the phoenix 'could symbolize renewal in general as well as the sun, time, the Empire, metempsychosis, consecration, resurrection, life in the heavenly Paradise, Christ, Mary, virginity, the exceptional man, and certain aspects of Christian life'.

Herodotus, Lucan, Pliny the Elder, Pope Clement I, Lactantius, Ovid, and Isidore of Seville are among those who have contributed to the retelling and transmission of the phoenix motif. There are different traditions concerning the lifespan of the phoenix, but by most accounts the phoenix lived for 500 years before rebirth.

According to some sources, the phoenix dies in a show of flames and combustion, although there are other sources that claim that the legendary bird dies and simply decomposes before being born again. In Greek mythology, a phoenix ( Ancient Greek: φοῖνιξ phoînix) is a long-lived bird that cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again.Īssociated with the Sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. File:Phoenix-Fabelwesen.jpgĪ phoenix depicted in a book of legendary creatures by FJ Bertuch (1747–1822)

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