Is there a phoenix. Symbols of the mythical bird phoenix. Phoenix in oriental culture

The description of the Phoenix bird is similar in all sources. She looks like a large eagle with flaming plumage of reds and golds. Multiple revival allows the bird to live from 160 to 500 years (and different sources call different life expectancy). But it is invariable that the Phoenix bird is directly related to the cult of the Sun and is a symbol of eternity, cyclicality, immortality. The magic bird feeds on the morning dew and is a positive character, appealing to humility, meekness, creativity and goodness.

In some cultures, such as China, it symbolizes marital fidelity, while in Christianity it portends the resurrection of the dead. And according to other ancient scriptures, the bird received its immortality just for meekness - it, along with other animals, was placed by Noah on the ark. Phoenix is ​​the only one who did not need food and care, and her modesty did not allow to attract the attention of busy Noah, in gratitude he asked the Lord for immortality for the bird. In Russian fairy tales, the Phoenix bird is well known by other names - Finist-Clear Falcon and Firebird.

Phoenix bird revival ritual

According to the legends, the Phoenix bird, sensing the approach of death, begins to build a nest. To do this, she carefully chooses thin twigs, leaves of rare and valuable trees, fragrant herbs. And after that, already in the nest, it begins to wait for its end, burning to the ground along with the nest, it gives new life to a small individual, similar to a worm. In the future, an adult grows out of it, exactly like a burned one. It is for this reason that there are never two Phoenix birds on earth at once.

Phoenix bird in Arabic mythology

The most famous is the Phoenix bird from Arab mythology. She has scaly scarlet and golden wings, she sang wondrous songs at the well every morning, so that Apollo himself stopped to listen to them. Her life was long, and she died on fire of sandalwood and myrrh, reborn again young. The first task of the revived Phoenix was to transport the ash of its predecessor to Heliopolis to the altar of the sun god.

Phoenix bird in Chinese mythology - Fenghuang

Fenghuang in Chinese mythology is a symbol of goodness, virtue, prosperity and power. Fenghuang combines masculine and feminine, yin and yang. According to legends, Fenghuang walked so gently that the grass remained unacceptable, and ate only dew. And she drew her strength from heaven, delivering it only to the empress. The image of the Phoenix bird was widely used and is used now in interior design, furniture, as well as in the manufacture of jewelry. At the same time, the public allowed only very respected people to wear clothes and jewelry with the image of the Phoenix bird.

Phoenix bird in the Egyptian Book of the Dead

Phoenix has perhaps the most tragic story in Egyptian mythology. Day after day, the bird fights against darkness, primarily within itself, resists its own ignorance and kills the love of ignorance. The path to perfection is painful and difficult, passing it over and over again, burning and resurrecting, Phoenix improves, becomes better. In these endless cycles, a secret meaning is hidden: life is a difficult task, and there is no end to the work that must and can be done, and only eternity can allow one to approach the ideal. This is an endless striving for truth, and fire also symbolizes the light in the hearts of people who strive to spend even a short earthly life in the knowledge of the truth.

Phoenix bird in Slavic mythology

Slavic myths are especially fabulous and interesting, and, of course, they were not without the Phoenix bird or the Firebird. It was the Firebird that became the subject of the hunt, the heroes of fairy tales were looking for it, and if they managed to get at least a feather, they returned victorious. The Firebird ate golden apples, which gave health, youth and immortality. Her singing healed the sick, and pearls fell from her beak. The Light of the Firebird healed even the blind, and the difficult task was entrusted only to the youngest son, who in fairy tales was usually the kindest.

Phoenix as a mascot

It is believed that any image of the Phoenix bird has tremendous energy, and such an amulet brings wealth, prosperity and good luck to the house. But only if it is correctly placed, and the owner of the amulet knows how to handle it correctly. Those who are well versed in the teachings of Feng Shui are sure that the energy of the Phoenix can be directed to the implementation of any good undertakings. Who will Phoenix help:

• creative personalities: writers, poets, artists;
• people who want to reach their potential;
• people who need to gain self-confidence and who work on themselves, getting rid of bad habits.

The mascot does not tolerate restrictions, the bird needs free space to spread its wings and protect you, your home and your loved ones with its light. Placing it in confined, confined and dark spaces is impossible to achieve the desired result. The southern part of the house is ideal, since according to the Feng Shui teachings it is a zone of fire.

Phoenix bird meaning:

• death and rebirth;
• infinity and cyclicality;
• purity and chastity;
• variability and change;
• meekness and moderation.

It is better to create a talisman with your own hands. It can be a panel, drawing or something else. The main thing is not to forget about the color - bright reds, purples and fiery shades are best suited for decoration. If you use real feathers, even if you dyed with your own hands, the effect will increase many times over.

Phoenix bird in modern cinema

The Phoenix bird was praised and described by poets of the Middle Ages, in the age of modernity it was also not ignored. Here are just a few of the films:

• Omen III: The Last Battle;
• Indiana Jones: The Search for the Lost Ark;
• "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow";
• "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix";
• "X-Men".

That is, there is not a single culture where the Phoenix bird does not appear in one form or another. Her image was actively used in heraldry and as emblems. All stories are similar and differ only in details, adapted according to the culture of the country or nation. And since the values ​​of all peoples, regardless of religion, are the same - this is a benefactor, a striving for perfection even during life, then the character of a bird is the same everywhere. This confirms the theory of the need to have an unattainable immaculate ideal, devoid of worldly sins and vanity, but at the same time being attainable and quite tangible.

"In the Garden of Eden, under the tree of knowledge, a rose bush bloomed; in the very first rose that blossomed on it, a bird was born; its feathers were cast with wonderful colors, its flight was radiance, its singing was wondrous harmony.

But here Eve tasted of the tree of knowledge, and together with Adam she was expelled from paradise, and from the fiery sword of the angel of retribution, one spark fell into the nest. The nest flared up, and the bird burned out, but a new, unique, always unique phoenix bird flew out of the red-hot egg. Myths say that she builds a nest for herself in Arabia and every hundred years she burns herself in the nest, but a new phoenix flies out of the red-hot egg, again the only one in the world.

Fast as a ray of light, shining with a wonderful color of feathers, enchanting with its marvelous singing, a wondrous bird flies around us. "(Hans Christian Andersen)

Phoenix is ​​an ancient symbol of immortality, rebirth, sun. This mythological bird is colored gold and red, symbolizing the rising sun.

In monumental statues, stone pyramids and buried mummies, the Egyptians sought to gain eternity; it is quite natural that it was in their country that the myth of a cyclically reborn, immortal bird should have arisen, although the subsequent development of the myth was made by the Greeks and Romans.

Adolv Erman writes that in the mythology of Heliopolis, Phoenix (bnu) is the patron saint of anniversaries, or large time cycles.

Herodotus, in a famous passage, sets out the original version of the legend:

"There is ... a sacred bird, its name is Phoenix. I myself have never seen it, except as drawn, for in Egypt it rarely appears, once every 500 years, as the inhabitants of Heliopolis say. According to them, it arrives when it dies. her father (that is, she herself) If the images correctly show her size and size and appearance, her plumage is partly golden, partly red. Her appearance and size are reminiscent of an eagle. "

Also in the fortune-telling inscriptions of Ancient China, created 15 centuries BC, the wonderful phoenix bird - "fenghuang" is mentioned. The Chinese dictionary of the 1st century "Interpretation of signs" ("Chauven") described the phoenix bird as follows: "It looks like a swan from the front, a unicorn (qilin) ​​from the back, a snake's neck, a fish's tail, a dragon's body, a tortoise's body, a cock's beak."

The Chinese "Catalog of the Seas and Mountains" also narrates about the bird king phoenix: "Five hundred to the east of the Heavenly Tiger Mountain is the Cinnabar Cave Mountain. At its top there is a lot of gold and jade. There is a bird, five-colored, with streaks. Phoenix is ​​called. The pattern on her head resembles the hieroglyph "de", which means "virtue", and on the wings, the hieroglyph "and" - "justice", on the back - the hieroglyph "li" - "good manners", on the chest - "jen" - " Perfection ", on the belly -" blue "-" honesty ". She eats and drinks like an ordinary bird. She sings and dances herself. When she is seen, calm and peace come in the Celestial Empire."

For the medieval Chinese, the phoenix bird represented marital fidelity and a prosperous life. Therefore, she was often depicted on wedding dresses, was a symbol of the bride and the empress.

Coming from the ancient sage Confucius, the saying "phoenixes do not appear" means that all happiness comes and does not come.

However, one should not confuse the Chinese phoenix with the European Phoenix, known from the books of ancient Greek authors and medieval treatises - this is a completely different bird.

At the end of the 17th century, the German scientist F. Wolf gathered together all the information that was known by that time about the sky bird Phoenix. The result of the search was published in a work with the intricate title "The Amazing Wildlife Garden, or On the Unreasonableness of Animals."

"The Phoenix bird is considered the most amazing of all the birds of the air. Some write that it lives in Arabia, others talk about other places. This bird does not reproduce like other birds, but is reborn after death from its own ashes.

She lives 160 years, and some scientists argue that it is longer. They also say about her that she is the only one in all the earth, therefore they see her very rarely. This is where the saying goes: "More rare than the Phoenix." The size of a Phoenix from an eagle, the neck is shiny, golden, in the tail there are pink feathers, the face is round, on the head is a tuft.

Phoenix is ​​not born like all other birds. When a bird reaches old age and feels the approach of death, it makes a nest of herbs and rare expensive plants such as coffee, myrrh, aloe, which are highly flammable. Then sit in the nest and wait for it to light up. And together with the nest, it burns to the ground. After the Phoenix burns down, first a worm appears, and from this worm then grows similar to the former Phoenix. Ovid wrote about this.

Further, this new bird arranges an amazing funeral for the burnt-out bird: it transfers the ashes of the burnt nest to the famous city of Heliopolis in Egypt and places it on the altar there. She does it as follows:
1) weaves an ovoid vessel from palm branches;
2) tries to see if he can pick it up;
3) carefully aligns the vessel and fills it with the ashes of the burnt nest;
4) neatly closes the hole;
5) lays his burden on the altar in the Temple of the Sun in Heliopolis. "

Another version of the description of the Phoenix was left to us in the 6th century BC in the apocrypha of "The Revelation of Baruch". When Baruch asked, "what kind of birds are these?" neither the human race nor all creation on earth would be alive from the heat of the sun. " Thus, Phoenix saves people from the incinerating gaze of the luminary.

There is a description of the Phoenix in the old "Physiologist": "His head is decorated with a crown, and on his feet boots, like a king. Sunny city... He will spend 500 years on Lebanese cedars without food. It feeds on the Holy Spirit. The bell rings at the appointed hour, and the Phoenix in the church on the altar turns to ash. And in the morning they find a bird in the same place in the form of a chick, and a day later - as an adult "...

The phoenix was also known in Russia. The Pigeon Book says: Phoenix-bird - "to all mother birds." Her "feathers are stronger than steel and damask steel, they cut bones and stones, and when guests come from across the sea, they buy and cover feathers or velvets and satins."

Shakespeare, in the conclusion of Henry VIII (V, 5), wrote the following beautiful lines about the Phoenix:

Like a virgin - Phoenix, a miracle bird,
Burning itself, it rises from the ashes
An heir, as beautiful as herself.

Translation by B. Tomashevsky

Unsurprisingly, early Christians depicted the phoenix in the catacombs as a sign of the Resurrection. Saint Clement of Rome (1st century) connects the image of the phoenix with Christian teaching: repeating the story of Ovid about the five hundred-year-old phoenix that lives in Arabia, Clement ends his story with the words that the Creator, who created the phoenix, thus demonstrated that he gives immortality to the one who devotes his life to faithful service to Him. This thought of Clement was taken up by later Christian authors - Tertullian, Lactantius, Rufinus, St. Gregory of Tours and others. In bestiaries, medieval books in which descriptions of animals were accompanied by religious commentaries, the legend of the phoenix symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.

In Christian teachings, the phoenix becomes a symbol not only of the immortality of the spirit, divine love and blessing, but also of God the Son, who was resurrected on the third day after the crucifixion. Phoenix images adorn cathedrals in Tours, Magdeburg, Basel, and many other European cities. The most impressive is the 12th century wall mosaic in the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rome: it depicts a phoenix with white and blue plumage, with gold-red wings, its head is surrounded by white and gold halos.

The legend of the Phoenix bird is found among the inhabitants of China and Japan, and among the American Indians, and among the inhabitants of the Nile Delta. If you believe the myths, then this is a legendary bird, which outwardly very much resembled an eagle of bright scarlet or gold color. The word itself "phoenix" from ancient Greek is interpreted as "purple".

In the article:

The basis of the legend of the firebird Phoenix

Among various peoples, this magical creature was very often associated with the ritual of worshiping the Sun, identified with eternal life, constant renewal. The image of the Phoenix bird is found in many countries. People believed that this bird could not die, but it ignites the moment a chick hatches from an egg.

Another version says that Phoenix burns down and then rises from the ashes. Therefore, there can be only one representative of this species on the planet. Such a mystical creature feeds only on dew. In addition to the fact that the Phoenix was often identified with the divine messenger, he is also a symbol of meekness.

The meaning of the Phoenix bird in ancient Egypt

Benu bird image

If we talk about the mythology of the Egyptians, it is very difficult to understand what was the beginning of the creation of the legend of the Phoenix.

There is an opinion that it was originally an astronomical symbol that was identified with the spiral ascent of the star Sirius. In ancient times, this was a sign that the Nile was overflowing, which in turn foreshadowed the emergence of an imminent harvest.

Egyptian mythical bird was called Benhu... It is believed that the legend of the gray heron, which was the very first living creature that appeared on the created earth, is associated with this mythical creature. This heron was sent by the sun deity.

In Heliopolis, this creature was treated with special respect. The Egyptians in this city believed that the bird's age was not eternal, but limited to five hundred years.

The fiery bird in the myths of ancient Greece and Rome

The earliest records of the divine bird-happiness Phoenix are from Herodotus in the fifth century BC. He points out that this is a mythical creature from Arabia. The mythical creature lives for 500 years in one place with its father and mother. When they die, the creature flies to the Temple of the Sun God in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis and buries its ancestors in this place.

As you can see, the legend is slightly different. However, Herodotus does not remember anything about the fact that ptah is capable of spontaneous combustion. In the later works of Greek philosophers, on the contrary, it is mentioned that the essence can burn and after a while again "reborn" from the ashes.

In the writings of Manilia there is information that the duration of the life of an entity is the Great Platonic year. This is the period during which the Sun, Moon and 5 planets return to their initial position.

In the Roman Empire, it was believed that the magic bird really exists and is in the service of the emperor. The magical essence was a symbol of divine power, the immortality of the state. However, the magic bird did not help the Roman Empire rise from the ashes.

What does the Phoenix bird mean in Jewish Kabbalah and Christianity?

Only the bird resisted the temptation.

There is a small myth in the Jewish religion that tells about what happened one day in Eden. It says that Eve gave fruit from the tree of knowledge not only to Adam, but also to all living creatures that were in the area.

Only one creature resisted the temptation, which thanks to this was able to maintain its immortality. Further, this essence lives all the time, but after every thousand years it burns up in its nest and is reborn from the ashes.

There is another story that deals with a magical entity.

While Noah was on the ark during the flood for a year, he had a conversation with one of the birds. During the feeding, only she did not ask for food, did not bother Noah. When asked why the bird does not eat anything, the magical creature replied that he did not want to worry Noah and add worries to him. The man was very touched and asked the Almighty as a reward to give Phoenix endless life.

In the Christian religion, the Phoenix bird has become a sign of endless existence, resurrection, eternity. Some believe that this is a symbol of Christ. In early Christianity, you can very often find the image of the Phoenix on burial slabs. This is an important sign indicating the triumph over death.

Does Phoenix exist in Slavic mythology?

Isobe Firebird

If we talk about Slavic mythology, then even two birds of the Phoenix appear before us. This is the well-known Firebird and Finist Bright Falcon.

Despite the fact that the first more in its appearance resembles a peacock, and the second was actually a person who from time to time took the form of a bird, they have a lot of similarities.

For example, the Firebird dies with the onset of cold weather, and is born again with the onset of heat. The finist falls asleep deeply, after which he also wakes up in the spring.

Phoenix from Ethiopia

There is another world, which says that in fact, such a bird appeared for the first time on the territory of Ethiopia, and the name was given to it by the Assyrians. In ancient depictions, Phoenix in this case appears in the form of an amazing magical character with a rooster's beak, swallow's throat, fish tail, crane forehead, turtle's back and duck's head.

Image from the painting of the tomb of Irinofer

The magical creature has plumage of scarlet, blue, gold, white and black. They all personify different virtues: duty, devotion, knowledge of rituals, decency and philanthropy. For the Assyrians, Phoenix was the embodiment of fire, warmth, rich harvest, warmth and kindness. Eaten making bamboo seeds.

What Phoenix looks like in Japan and China

One of the more astonishing variants of the Phoenix is ​​represented in Chinese myths. In ancient times, a legend about the Magic Bird Feng Huang was formed in this country.

Her peculiarity was that in herself she combined both masculine and feminine principles. Today, the local breed of chicken is considered the real Phoenix - Onagadori... This is a lovely bird with a very beautiful fluffy tail, which is more than one meter long.

In the first millennium AD, these birds were brought to Japan. Further, the most real Phoenixes awaited metamorphosis. In modern birds, the tails have increased to 10-13 meters. Therefore, we can say with precision that at least one Phoenix bird actually exists in our time.

People associated this magical creature with something known and mysterious. Alchemists drew an analogy with the Philosopher's Stone. This is not surprising, because the Philosopher's Stone is also "born" from the fire that falls from the sky.

Phoenix. The emblem is on copper. W. H. von Hochberg, 1675

The sacred bird, somewhat reminiscent of both an eagle and a heron, has lived on Earth for thousands of years. The beautiful creature is known in the world under different names: Anka, Simurg, Geruda and others. But, despite the many names, a powerful creature in every country and religion symbolizes the thirst for life, the power of faith and the incorruptibility of the soul.

Origin story

The legendary Phoenix bird did not immediately become a symbol of immortality. Phoenix is ​​believed to live for 500 years. The animal lives near its own parents. After the death of relatives, the magical creature transfers the bodies of the dead to the Temple of the Sun God in Heliopolis, where it remains until the time that the gods allocated to the bird ends.

The story described by the ancient Greek is borrowed from Egyptian mythology. In the first legends, the bird appears under the name Bennu. It is not surprising that in the later writings of Herodotus' compatriots, the essence of the Phoenix was modified.

Now a rare creature lives Platonov year (a period of time equal to 12954 years). Death comes to the bird after Phoenix inhales the scent of cinnamon. From the ashes of a deceased creature, a chick is born, which quickly gains strength.

The image of a reviving creature on the territory of Greece personified the rising sun. Soon, the mystical bird acquired worldwide significance. Every religion has used the Phoenix as a symbol of immortality, self-sacrifice, meekness and masculinity.

Mythology

Legends about the fairy bird appear in many respected sources. The Bible is no exception. The Book of Inoch and The Revelations of Baruch tell the story of the immortality of the Phoenix.

Eve, who succumbed to the temptation of the serpent, fell into sin herself and fed the forbidden apple to all the animals she met. Only one bird did not succumb to the provocation. Phoenix rejected the sinful offering, thus earning eternal life in the eyes of the Lord.

No less popular is the myth that affects the Phoenix and. While the man was completing the construction of the Ark, animals began to arrive on the ship. Among the many living creatures, only one bird did not require attention to itself and ate exclusively on dew. When Noah asked what the reason for this behavior was, Phoenix replied that he did not want to worry the hero. For such a reverent attitude, the man asked God to give the bird immortality.

Late interpretations of the ancient Greek myth about argue that the Atlantean entrusted people with not a simple fire. The rebel presented his own wards Phoenix, which helps the people of Greece to preserve such a precious gift. The gods of Olympus have been trying for many centuries to take away the magical flame from mere mortals. But while Phoenix lives on Earth, humanity can resurrect fire in their own homes over and over again.

In Slavic mythology, Phoenix appears in two forms at once: and Finist the Clear Falcon. Both characters are represented by heat-loving creatures. Creatures either die with the onset of cold weather (Firebird), or fall into deep sleep (Clear Falcon). But with the arrival of spring, the half-bird-half-man is resurrected again.

In Islam, the Phoenix exists only as a male. Outwardly, the bird resembles a huge heron. The adherents of Islam call the creature Actus. When the time comes to have offspring, the Eastern Phoenix carves fire from a tree with its beak, into which it lays down at its own will.

When rain falls on the ash left over from the Phoenix, caterpillars emerge from the mud. Later, the creatures acquire feathers and wings. So a new generation of beautiful mystical creatures is growing up.

In eastern mythology, the Phoenix is ​​represented as a sacred animal that embodies the masculine and feminine principles. The external coloring of the bird consists of five bright colors, which symbolize the most important aspects of human life. According to legend, the first man on Earth summoned Phoenix from heaven with the help of magical music emanating from the heart.

Screen adaptations

The mystical bird is a frequent character in motion pictures and cartoons. In 1952, the audience was stunned by Lydia Vertinskaya, who played the role of a magical creature from the fairy tale "Sadko". The role of Phoenix was the debut for an unusual beauty.

The image of an immortal bird is actively exploited in films based on comics. In the MCU "Marvel" the name Phoenix went to the character - a participant in "X-Men". The role of the flaming girl was played by the actress.

Phoenix's real assistant is represented in the film series about. Fawkes lives in the office of the headmaster of the Hogwarts School and comes to the aid of the young wizard during the battle with enemies. Phoenix first appears in the movie "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Eli Finch from the TV series Supernatural has a strong influence and power. Phoenix kills with one touch. The ash that remains from the creature after death is able to rid the world of the Mother of all monsters. The role of the Phoenix Man went to Matthew John Armstrong.

However, the bird is not always represented by a positive character. In the animated series Winx Club - Fairy School, the creature became the antagonist of the fairies who had already defeated the magical creature 16 years ago.

In the TV series "Grimm", the demon Firestorm possesses the same set of abilities as the mystical bird. The villain commits arson and ignites spontaneously at will. The role of the unusual Phoenix was played by Gideon Emery.

• Phoenix-style makeup has long been used in fashion shows and photo shoots. In such images, makeup artists focus on the eyes and ignore the lips.
• The image of a mystical bird is used on the coat of arms of Voskresensk near Moscow and the Latvian city of Dagda. In heraldry, the bird is also found on medals.
• The amulet that depicts the Phoenix is ​​a constant companion of mystics and fans of the occult sciences.

Quotes

"As long as you believe in me, I will always come back to life."

“Gol and sire are a man on earth, and so it will be forever. Woe to those who want to achieve happiness by deed! Happiness is peace, sleep, dream ... "

"I, the Phoenix bird, will sing you sweet songs."

There are many legends about this fantastic bird, in which the image of one of the most beautiful creatures on earth appears before us. The phoenix bird is a symbol of death and immortality, combustion and constant rebirth. It was compared to the sun setting in the evening and reappearing in the morning, with the eternal life of the soul leaving the body after death. So the phoenix has become entrenched in the minds of people as the embodiment of the dream of endless existence.

The idea of ​​a divine bird resembling a heron originated in Ancient Egypt, whose inhabitants, thinking about immortality, created magnificent temples, pyramids and imperishable mummies. According to the myth, the phoenix (benu) bird appeared on the stone-obelisk Ben-Ben that emerged from the water chaos, which marked the beginning of the creation of the world: the epithet “benu” in this case meant the phrase “the one that emerged from itself”. Not created by anyone, the bird that originally existed flew over the waters of the ocean until it made a nest for itself on the stone-hill Ben-Ben ...

Not only the ancient Egyptians thought this way: other backgammon also have stories that a bird took part in the creation of the world. Of course, people hardly knew exactly who created the world, but the appearance of a dazzling bird amazed the imagination, shining in the reflection of the sun's rays on the frescoes of Heliopolis. As Herodotus wrote, “the phoenix is ​​a sacred bird, in Egypt it rarely appears, once every 500 years, as the townspeople said. According to them, she arrives when her father (that is, herself) dies. If the images correctly show its size, size and appearance, its plumage is partly golden, partly red, and its appearance and dimensions resemble an eagle. "

Here we are talking about the miracle of rebirth that took place in the Egyptian Heliopolis, the temple of the sun god. Unlike all other birds, the phoenix was born without mating. When the bird felt that its time had come, it, fluttering its wings, flew in from the east, made a nest of fragrant dry herbs on the altar of the sun god and lay down in it. From the hot rays of the luminary, reflecting from its sparkling wings, the nest caught fire, and the phoenix burned to ashes. A few days later, a completely new bird appeared in this place and began a new life, which, in fact, is eternal.

The Metamorphoses of Ovid, who created the Roman version of the myth based on the legends about the bird of the Sun, had a huge impact on the spread of the legends about the phoenix. This image is best illustrated by the title of the book: "metamorphosis" in Greek means "reincarnation." Ovid's story is distinguished not only by its clarity, but also by a consistent presentation of events: we are talking about the burial of a deceased phoenix and the revival of a bird from its own seed.

In the ancient world, the phoenix was a symbol of immortality and eternity. In the same sense, the Byzantine emperors depicted him on their medals. On the prints of later European rulers, the immortal bird flaunted for centuries, however, a symbol of perfection and purity was added to it. In 1665, the medal with the image of a phoenix was ordered to be knocked out by the Swedish queen Christina. Above the image was the word "makelos" in Greek letters, that is, "infallible."

As for the appearance of the phoenix bird, all descriptions agree on one thing: it is an amazingly beautiful creature. Something like a bird of paradise, only much more. Her head and neck shine with gold, her chest is covered with down of a fiery blue, and her body is covered with feathers that shimmer in red, green and yellow, on the long tail the colors change from pink to purple. The unanimity in the description of the phoenix deserves attention also because there was no person who would see the bird with his own eyes. Someone once imagined what a wondrous creature could be, and this imaginative description began to pass from one book to another, like a bird fluttering from branch to branch.

The Greek and Latin writers estimate the duration of individual periods of the life of the "eternal bird", as already mentioned, at 500-540 years. Egyptian sources are more accurate: the phoenix flies to the temple of the sun god to burn itself to the ground every 652 years. Its appearance is noted during the reign of Pharaoh Sesostris in 2555 BC. e., then in 1904 BC. NS. etc. From these notes, modern science has suggested that the 652-year period, or the so-called Phoenix period, coincides with the period of the passage of Mercury through the Sun. That is, the phoenix is ​​nothing more than an astronomical symbol, a hieroglyph, meaning the passage of Mercury.

The Roman historian Tacitus (I-II century), argued that the phoenix, before death, secretes into the nest a certain fertile substance, from which a young bird is born: “This creature is dedicated to the Sun and differs from other birds in its head and brightness of plumage, everyone agrees on this, who described him appearance... They say differently about his age. Most define it at five hundred years, but there are those who claim that this phoenix has been living for one thousand four hundred and sixty-one years, since earlier the phoenixes flew to the city called Heliopolis, the first time under the reign of Sesosis, the second time - Amasis and in the last - Ptolemy. "

A contemporary of Tacitus, Saint Clement of Rome, for the first time connects the image of the phoenix with Christian teaching: repeating the story of Ovid about the five-hundred-year-old phoenix that lives in Arabia, Clement ends his story with the words that “The Creator who created the phoenix thus demonstrated that he gives immortality to the one who dedicates a life of faithful service to Him. " This thought of Clement was taken up by later Christian authors - Tertullian, Lactantius, Rufinus, St. Gregory of Tours and others.

In Christian teachings, the phoenix becomes a symbol not only of the immortality of the spirit, divine love and blessing, but also of God the Son, who was resurrected on the third day after the crucifixion. Phoenix images adorn cathedrals in Tours, Magdeburg, Basel, and many other European cities. Most impressive is the 12th-century wall mosaic in St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome: it depicts a phoenix with blue-white plumage, gold-red wings, and its head surrounded by white and gold halos.

The eminent theosophist Helena Blavatsky also left her commentary in The Secret Doctrine: “The death and resurrection of the phoenix signify the successive destruction and restoration of the world, which ... were accomplished by means of a fiery flood. Being " fiery bird”, It means the divinity of royal power, nobility and uniqueness, as well as meekness. In all traditions, the phoenix acts as a solar symbol. "

The common tradition was picked up in ancient China as well. In Chinese mythology, the phoenix (fenghuang) is a miracle bird that, in contrast to the Chinese dragon, embodies the feminine principle (yin). Its appearance to people is a great sign, which can testify to the power of the emperor or portend a significant event.

In the Shouwen dictionary of fenghuang, compiled during the Han dynasty, it is said that this bird has a rooster's beak, a swallow's goiter, a snake's neck, patterns on its body, like a dragon's, a fish's tail, a turtle's back, it looks like a swan in front, and a unicorn in the back. Its height reaches 3 m. According to Chinese beliefs, fenghuang was seen before the death of the Yellow Emperor. She was last seen at the grave of the founder of the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

The phoenix king-bird and the Chinese “Catalog of the Seas and Mountains” narrate: “Five hundred to the east of the Heavenly Tiger Mountain is the Cinnabar Cave Mountain, at its top there is a lot of gold and jade. There is a bird, five-color, with streaks. Phoenix is ​​called. The pattern on her head resembles the hieroglyph "de", which means "virtue", and on the wings - the hieroglyph "i" ("justice"), on the back - the hieroglyph "li" ("good manners"), on the chest - "ren" ("Perfection"), on the belly - "blue" ("honesty"). She eats and drinks like a normal bird. She sings herself and dances herself. "

The appearance of fenghuang was considered a sign of the coming of peace in the Celestial Empire. As a bird that accompanies peace and prosperity, this mystical creature is mentioned in many Chinese legends. Fusi (in ancient Chinese mythology - the ancestor) on the occasion of the arrival of fenghuang created special music. It was believed that she knew the seasons of the year, so the Shaohao ruler named the official in charge of the calendar, Fennyao-shi ("the genus of the feng bird").

In the Middle Ages, the image of a fenghuang bird was often used in Taoism: it was reported about saints flying in the sky, it was told about the appearance of a feng bird in a dream, after which they gave birth to outstanding sons. For the medieval Chinese, the phoenix bird represented marital fidelity and a prosperous life. Therefore, she was often depicted on wedding dresses, was a symbol of the bride and the empress. Coming from the ancient sage Confucius, the proverb “all phoenixes do not appear” means that all happiness does not come and does not come.

The image of a magical creature is very popular in Chinese art. Approximately from the Shang-Yin era, bronze vessels with reliefs depicting fenghuang as a bird with a bushy tail, huge eyes and a crest on its head, in the form of a trident on a long leg, have come down to us.

In China, as in other countries of the world, this bird was considered immortal. According to Chinese belief, when a mythical creature anticipates its demise, it retires to desert places and sings songs there all day. His singing is very beautiful and melodious, it fascinates everyone, even animals. After the magical singing, the phoenix kindles a fire and throws himself into it to disappear into the flames without a trace. But no later than three days later, the phoenix is ​​reborn from the ashes, overflowing new life and shining with beauty.

The Jews, who call the miracle bird milcham, said that only she refused to eat the forbidden fruit, and for this God granted her immortality. And in the teachings of the Stoics it is said that the world is born and dies in fire, and this process is cyclical; thus, the phoenix can be interpreted as an image of the universe. This creature is also an attribute of the allegorical image of hope.

At the end of the 17th century, the German scientist F. Wolf gathered together all the information about the heavenly bird that was available at that time. The author published the result of the search in a work with the intricate title "Amazing Wildlife Garden, or On the Unreasonableness of Animals": "The phoenix bird is considered the most amazing of all the birds of the air. Some write that she lives in Arabia, others talk about other places. This bird does not reproduce, like other birds, but is reborn after death from its own ashes. She lives 160 years, and some scientists argue that it is longer. They also say about her that she is the only one in the whole earth, therefore they see her very rarely. Hence the saying: "More rare than a phoenix bird." The size of a phoenix from an eagle, the neck is shiny, golden, in the tail there are pink feathers, the face is round, on the head is a tuft. "

An earlier description of the phoenix was made in the 6th century BC in the apocrypha "The Revelation of Baruch". To the question of the biblical prophet "What kind of bird is this?" the angel replied: "This is the keeper of the world ... If she did not cover the fiery pupil of the sun, then neither the human race, nor all creatures on earth would be alive from the heat of the sun." Thus, the phoenix saves people from the incinerating gaze of the luminary.

There is a description of a wonderful bird in the very first medieval "zoological" book "Physiologist" in Russia: "The head is adorned with a crown, and on the legs are boots, like those of a tsar. The phoenix lives near the Sun City. It has been lying for 500 years on Lebanese cedars without food. It feeds on the Holy Spirit. The bell rings at the appointed hour, and the phoenix in the church on the altar turns to ash. And in the morning they find a phoenix in the same place in the form of a chick, and a day later - an adult bird ... "The winged creature is also mentioned in the collection of spiritual poems under the well-known title" The Pigeon Book ". It says: “The phoenix bird is the mother of all birds. Her feathers are stronger than steel and damask, they cut bones and stones with them, and when guests come from across the sea, they buy feathers and cover velvets and satins with them.

Over the centuries, the number of references to the phoenix in sources has increased exponentially. If for the entire time before the birth of Christ only 9 indications of the phoenix are known, then in the 1st century alone we find already 21 references by 10 authors. In early Christian times, there are already more than 100 of them, and in literary sources related to the Middle Ages, it is generally incalculable.

In art and literature, the phoenix symbolizes rebirth - of a person or a design - or creative activity after some kind of destruction, in particular from fire. In addition, his images are widely used in heraldry. The phoenix adorns the shield of Jeanne d'Arc, the seal of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, the medallion of the English Queen Elizabeth I. Lady Jane Seymour's brooch depicts a phoenix engulfed in flames. A similar bird with spread wings is also depicted in the painting of the same name by Rembrandt. commissioned by the artist by the Amsterdam community, whose symbol was also the phoenix.

There are countless references to the bird of paradise in fiction. The oldest literary sources are the 9th century English Poem of the Phoenix, in which the bird personifies the afterlife. The 12th century "Teaching about the Phoenix" contains a description of Saint Peter's visit to heaven, who witnesses the rebirth of the phoenix from the ashes on the third day after death. In Wolfram von Eschenbach's Perzifal (12th century), an immortal phoenix guards the sacred Grail Stone.

Phoenix also appears in Dante's Divine Comedy:

This is what the great sages know,

That Phoenix is ​​dying to rise like a new one,

When it comes to five hundred years.

Not herbs - his food, not fruit juice,

But incense tears and amom,

Backgammon and myrrh are mortal covers.

And Petrarch in sonnets compares his immortal love for Beatrice with a phoenix. Despite the fact that, according to ancient sources, only one phoenix lives on earth, the heroes of François Rabelais' novel "Gargantua and Pantagruel" meet 14 phoenixes simultaneously on one tree during their travels.

Phoenix is ​​one of Shakespeare's favorite images. The mythological bird is the hero of his play "The Phoenix and the Turtle Dove", where he is a symbol of immortality and truth, and she is a symbol of love and beauty. Both are burnt in the fire because of "marital chastity." As a symbol of rebirth and uniqueness, the phoenix is ​​mentioned in the plays The Tempest, As You Like It, All's Well That Ends Well, etc. In Milton's Paradise Lost, the Archangel Raphael descends to earth to Adam in the form of a phoenix. Keats writes: "The wings of the phoenix went to me ... so that I could fly away to my dreams."

The phoenix was and remains the most popular mythological bird in the world. He is truly immortal, living since the time of Herodotus and Hesiod in our history, myths, folklore, literature and art. A city in the United States is named after him, and in the southern hemisphere at night you can see a small constellation named after the legendary bird that rises from the ashes and is reborn to new life.

Pernatiev Yuri Sergeevich. Brownies, mermaids and other mysterious creatures