The Phoenix Bird
The Phoenix Bird
Name:
Date:
Block:
Teacher:
The phoenix bird is sometimes heard about and referenced in mythology, and even popular movies today like Harry Potter. But some don’t know its origin, and ancient mythological background. It starts with its symbolism. The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth, especially of the sun, and has alternatives in European, Central American, Egyptian and Asian cultures. In the 19th century, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a story about the phoenix. Edith Nesbit features a phoenix in one of her children's stories, “The Phoenix and the Carpet”, as does J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. In one volume of Harry Potter, the phoenix does its resurrecting routine.
Let us consider that wonderful sign of the resurrection which takes place in Eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred 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, 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. Originally, the 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
Name:
Date:
Block:
Teacher:
The phoenix bird is sometimes heard about and referenced in mythology, and even popular movies today like Harry Potter. But some don’t know its origin, and ancient mythological background. It starts with its symbolism. The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth, especially of the sun, and has alternatives in European, Central American, Egyptian and Asian cultures. In the 19th century, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a story about the phoenix. Edith Nesbit features a phoenix in one of her children's stories, “The Phoenix and the Carpet”, as does J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. In one volume of Harry Potter, the phoenix does its resurrecting routine.
Let us consider that wonderful sign of the resurrection which takes place in Eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred 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, 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. Originally, the 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