PHOENIX - THE MYTHICAL BIRD

Birds assume a prime role in mythology and legends..Of all the renowed mythical birds,Phoenix is the best known and renowned all over the universe.A phoenix is a mythical bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. Its symbolizes resurrection,immortality and life after death.Greek believed that it lived on a cool well in Arabia, that it traveled to Heliopolis for dying (and resurrecting from its ashes), and that its song was so beautiful that the Sun god would stop on his chariot to listen to its chantA phoenix is a mythical bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends).It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The phoenix or firebird originated in ancient mythology and has gone through a variety of representations in art/literature, ranging from being fully birdlike to having the head of a dog and suckling its young. Typically, it is considered benevolent, but some tales suggest that humans are not always safe around it. Further, many tales share elements with those of the phoenix.he phoenix was identified by the Egyptians as a stork or heron-like bird called a benu, known from the Book of the Dead and other Egyptian texts as one of the sacred symbols of worship at Heliopolis, closely associated with the rising sun and the Egyptian sun-god Ra.In Russian folklore, the phoenix appears as the Zhar-Ptitsa (Жар-Птица), or firebird, subject of the famous 1910 ballet score by Igor Stravinsky.
In modern Greece, the phoenix became established as a symbol of the nation's rebirth during the Greek War of Independence. It was first used in the flags of Alexander Ypsilantis, and was chosen as the official emblem of the Provisional Government (1828–1832) by Governor John Capodistria, who also named the first modern Greek currency "phoenix". Despite being replaced by a Germanic royal Coat of Arms, it remained a popular symbol, and was used again in the 1930s by the Second Hellenic Republic. However, its use by the military junta of 1967-1974 made it extremely unpopular, and it has almost disappeared from use after 1974, with the notable exception of the Order of the Phoenix, the country's second-highest award.And every magical, fantasy story reveals a phoenix in it , for example, Harry Potter series where they show that the tears of phoenix can heal wounds and of course we all remember the 5th part in the series namely Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [;)]

Phoenix also known as fire-bird is known in many mythologies by different names like the Fenghuang in China, Fire bird in Russia,Bennu in correspondence to phoenix in Egypt,Angha, Huma,Simurgh in Persia,Adarna in Phillipines and many birds are renowed in mythologies like Garuda in India,Thailand,Indonesia,Mongolia, Turul a bird in Magyars(Hungary) myth,Avalerion in Indian myth that drowns after laying eggs,Ziz pure bird and protector of all known birds according to Hebrew myth,Kokko a bird in Finnish folklore,Suzaku a vermilion bird in Japan,Griffin (gryphon) a hybrid between eagle and lion that can fly, Pixiu(chinese myth)a winged lion,Roc or Rukh a Persian gigantic bird,Stymphalin bird (greek mythology)a metallic bird with bronze beak that preys on man and many many other birds ....

sources: wikipedia, journals, old books