Legend of the Phoenix

By: Silvio Ibanez

The legend of the phoenix has been in the popular imagination since ancient civilizations. This magical, mythical bird has been a part of the plot since time immemorial. Even today, you would find mention of the phoenix, in books, tales and movies. A city in the United States is named after this bird, which rises from its ashes and the "Harry Potter" movie series has it interwoven in many sub-plots.

Just like any story that originated as an oral tradition, the context varied from teller to teller. Each story teller would put his or her own spin on the story, changing tiny aspects that influenced the next story teller. The origination of the myth is widely debated and the story cannot be nailed down to one specific place or time. The oral tradition has not only changed the story, but also the origination of the story as time has progressed.

Certain aspects of the myth have remained unchanged, though history has tampered the myth itself. The phoenix is believed to be a supernatural creature, capable of living a minimum of a thousand years without being sick or injured. Such an incredible lifespan! Some believe that disease and drought can affect the lifespan of the bird to the extent it would enter its life's next phase.

The legend goes on to say that when a phoenix has either lived for a thousand years or becomes sick or injured, it begins to gather twigs, branches, and wood. This resembles a traditional funeral pyre instead of the usual nest. This was the way bodies were disposed off in the ancient times. Some ancient cultures have even included personal artifacts to be burned with their owner, while others have a tradition where the spouses also sacrifice themselves along with their mate.

The phoenix then burns itself at the lit pyre, though it is here that many versions of the whole myth start taking shape. Some say that the phoenix doesn't require these items to ignite it but has an inherent capability of self-igniting without requiring any fuel. There are differing opinions as to what happens after the phoenix is burned.

The traditional story goes that the phoenix ignites himself, burns to ash, and then rises again from the ashes to live another thousand years. This triumph over adversity has caused to bird to become the mascot or symbol of many groups and organizations. Once the bird is born from ashes, the cycle begins anew.

Another take on the tale goes on like this. The fire burns the phoenix, but not before it lays an egg from which an offspring is born that lives for a thousand years and this cycle goes on. One cannot be sure of which version to believe, but the triumph over adversity is common in all versions.

No one knows how this story began in the first place. Some believe that a story was created around a fire-colored bird that was captured long ago, while others say the phoenix was actually a raven that used to dance in the embers of a dying fire.

Article Source: http://www.retirementlivingarticledirectory.com

Silvio Ibanez is the chief editor for F phoenix, the #1 source on the internet for information about phoenix, For questions or comments about this article visit: www.findnphoenix.com/articles
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