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There are several variations of the phoenix legend. The first-century Church Father Clement of Rome once wrote an account of the phoenix, calling it “that wonderful sign which takes place in eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about.” This is the legend as he related it: | There are several variations of the phoenix legend. The first-century Church Father Clement of Rome once wrote an account of the phoenix, calling it “that wonderful sign which takes place in eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about.” This is the legend as he related it: | ||
<blockquote>There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind. It lives 500 years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds itself a nest of frankincense and myrrh and other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. | <blockquote> | ||
There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind. It lives 500 years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds itself a nest of frankincense and myrrh and other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. | |||
But as the flesh decays, a certain kind of worm is produced, which, being nourished by the juices of the dead bird, brings forth feathers. Then, when it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest in which are the bones of its parent, and bearing these it passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt, in to the city called Heliopolis. And, in open day, flying in the sight of all men, it places them on the altar of the sun, and having done this hastens back to its former abode. The priests then inspect the registers of the dates and find that it has returned exactly as the five hundredth year was completed.<ref>Allan Menzies, “The Epistles of Clement,” p. 236–37, in ''The Ante-Nicene Fathers'' (Grand Rapids, MI.: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 19___).</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
Later versions of the legend say that when the phoenix is finished making its nest, the rays of the sun ignite the nest. The bird is consumed by the fire. Out of the ashes of the dead phoenix arises the worm that becomes the new phoenix. | Later versions of the legend say that when the phoenix is finished making its nest, the rays of the sun ignite the nest. The bird is consumed by the fire. Out of the ashes of the dead phoenix arises the worm that becomes the new phoenix. | ||
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Clark says that one Egyptian text epitomizes “the appearance of light and life out of the original darkness and chaos as: ‘that breath of life which emerged from the throat of the Benu Bird,’” or phoenix. | Clark says that one Egyptian text epitomizes “the appearance of light and life out of the original darkness and chaos as: ‘that breath of life which emerged from the throat of the Benu Bird,’” or phoenix. | ||
<blockquote>The Phoenix embodies the original Logos—the Word or declaration of destiny which mediates between the divine mind and created things. It is essentially an aspect of God, self-created. It is the first and deepest manifestation of the “soul” of the High God. In a sense, when the Phoenix gave out the primeval call, it initiated all cycles of time. As the herald of each new dispensation, it becomes, optimistically, the harbinger of good tidings. | <blockquote> | ||
The Phoenix embodies the original Logos—the Word or declaration of destiny which mediates between the divine mind and created things. It is essentially an aspect of God, self-created. It is the first and deepest manifestation of the “soul” of the High God. In a sense, when the Phoenix gave out the primeval call, it initiated all cycles of time. As the herald of each new dispensation, it becomes, optimistically, the harbinger of good tidings. | |||
During the Middle Kingdom, the Benu Bird became the symbol for the [[Venus (the planet)|planet Venus]]—the morning star which precedes the sun out of the Underworld and is the herald of a new day. In spite of these minor roles, however, the Benu Bird continues to be “he who created himself”—a form of the High God.<ref>R. T. Rundle Clark, ''Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt'', pp. 245–46.</ref> | |||
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Clark says the phoenix also figures in Egyptian religion as | Clark says the phoenix also figures in Egyptian religion as | ||
<blockquote>the chief messenger from the inaccessible land of divinity. | <blockquote> | ||
the chief messenger from the inaccessible land of divinity. | |||
The Phoenix came from the far-away world of eternal life, bringing the message of light and life to a world wrapped in the helplessness of the primeval night. Its flight is the width of the world: “over oceans, seas and rivers,” to land, at last, in Heliopolis—the symbolic center of the earth, where it will announce the new age.<ref>R. T. Rundle Clark, ''Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt'' (Grove Press, 1960), p. 247.</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
[[File:Nanjing Museum - Embroidery - Phoenix.jpg|thumb|Embroidery showing a phoenix, Nanjing Museum]] | [[File:Nanjing Museum - Embroidery - Phoenix.jpg|thumb|Embroidery showing a phoenix, Nanjing Museum]] | ||