One of the mythological creatures that has
aroused more interest over the time is the
phoenix.
A bird that has fascinated hundreds of cultures
and people thoughout history for being an
universal symbol of rebirth and immortality.
The word phoenix comes from the Greek word
phoinix, which means "red".
This creature is usually depicted as a huge
bird in flames, with a golden body and scarlet
wings, whose feathers radiate a great glow.
It had great endurance, control over fire
and infinite wisdom.
But undoubtedly its most representative feature
is the power to burn and rise from its ashes.
Some fables claim that the Phoenix lived in
the deserts of Arabia, near a well of fresh
waters where it bathed every day and sang
a beautiful song.
However, the truth is that its origins cannot
be situated in a single point on the map since
this creature is common to many civilizations,
which have been building their own legends
around it.
Thus we can find representations of the phoenix
in China, Central America or Egypt.
It is in this last country where we find the
first mythological references through the
Greek historian Heródotus.
For the ancient Egyptians the equivalent to
the Phoenix was the Bennu, a sacred bird similar
to a héron, with long legs and two large
feathers on the head like a crest.
The Egyptians associated it with the rise
of the Nile, the Sun, death and rebirth.
It was a creature that deemed it necessary
to renew itself from time to time in order
to acquire greater wisdom.
That is why every 500 years a nest was built
with beautiful aromatic branches, and while
singing a beautiful song it set it on fire
and burned with it until consumed by the flames.
Three days later, a new Bennu was reborn from
its ashes, stronger and wiser.
Afterwards, Bennu took its remains to Heliopolis,
to the temple of the god Ra, initiating a
new cycle of life with which to inspire the
Egyptian people.
On the other hand we have the Christian version,
in which the Phoenix was a noble creature
with strong principles born in the Garden
of Eden, under the Tree of Good and Evil.
It is said that when Adam and Eve were expelled,
the angel who banished them gave off a spark
that burned the bird's nest, igniting it.
But since the Phoenix maintained its honor
and refused to taste the forbidden fruit,
immortality was granted, and instead of dying
obtained the power to be reborn from its ashes.
Its mission since then has been to share the
wisdom it had had since its origins in Eden,
and to inspire all those who sought knowledge.
But in addition to this gift, it also possessed
the gift of strength, and it was said that
its tears were capable of healing.
Over time this creature has become the image
of physical and spiritual rebirth, personifying
the power of fire, which purifies and bestows
immortality.
It also represents the Sun, which dies at
the end of each day and reappears at the next
dawn.
Today it is also considered a figure of resílience,
our ability to overcome difficult situations
and adapt to them.
That is why nowadays it is usual to hear expressions
such as "rise from the ashes" or "be reborn
like the phoenix", showing the strong symbology
that this creature still has
on humanity.
