The story of the phoenix has always fascinated me. The imagery of this majestic and mythic bird rising from the ashes encourages us to recognize the sort of strength that’s only born through adversity—the kind of strength that is only forged by fire. All one needs to do is read an article, turn on the news, or scroll through social media to see that we are living in times of distress. Humanity seems to have lost its ability to see the divinity in one another. The amount of demonizing and disrespect towards those who only share a different opinion leads me to believe that morality—and I don’t mean something necessarily attached to religion or culture but simply human decency—has left the planet and threatens never to return.
Though this sounds a bit pessimistic, I have hope because of stories like The Phoenix. This creature, which has been the source of fascination for people from around the world for centuries, may have some words of wisdom for us in this dark age.
The phoenix symbolizes resurrection, immortality, and the cyclical nature of life and death. It’s a symbol of rebirth and the beauty therewithin. Beyond that, it carries a host of rich symbolism and beliefs.
THE ORIGINS OF THE PHEONIX
But where does it come from? The story of the phoenix dates back to ancient civilizations, with its earliest mention found in Egyptian mythology. The Egyptians worshipped a bird called Bennu, which they believed was the combination of Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, associated with rebirth and the afterlife. The Bennu bird, like the phoenix, symbolizes the sun, creation, and rebirth. As the sun rose, so did the Bennu every morning, bringing life back into the world. The Egyptian phoenix was as large as an eagle, with bright red and gold plumage. Only one ever existed at any given time.
In Greek mythology, the legend of the great bird truly took flight, transforming Bennu into the phoenix we know today. The Greek phoenix, like its Egyptian predecessor, symbolized the sun, creation, and rebirth. It lived for 500 years before building its own funeral pyre, only to be consumed by flames and born anew from the ashes. This cycle of death and rebirth, which fascinated the Greeks, symbolized immortality and the indomitable spirit that persists despite the most difficult of hardships.
As the myth traveled through time and cultures, the phoenix also appeared in Roman, Chinese, and Persian lore, each adding its own flavor to the legend. The Chinese Fenghuang, for example, is a composite creature embodying the forces of yin and yang, good and evil, calm and chaos, and representing both the male and female aspects of the universe, thus emphasizing balance and harmony.
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE PHEONIX
The symbolism associated with the phoenix is as varied as the cultures it’s touched. In general, it represents renewal, the idea that life is cyclical and that death is not an end but a transformation. The image of the phoenix rising from its ashes has become a powerful metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges and becoming even greater, even more whole, because of them. This makes the phoenix not just a symbol of life but also one of hope and perseverance.
The mythical bird also entered the Christian faith, symbolizing Christ’s resurrection and the promise of eternal life. Early Christians adopted the phoenix because it reminded them of Christ overcoming the ultimate enemy—death itself. The bird’s 500-year lifespan before its fiery death and rebirth was seen as a parallel to Christ’s death and resurrection after three days.
But even a great bird has its dark side. The phoenix’s association with fire, destruction, and death before rebirth can be seen as a reminder of the inevitable destruction that must take place before renewal. The flames that consume the phoenix can represent purification but also symbolize excruciating, overwhelming pain and suffering that often accompany significant change. Another note: Even though the phoenix symbolizes death and rebirth, the same bird that died in the flames is not the same one that emerges from the other side. A new bird emerges. This suggests that something new emerges by trial and death—something familiar but altogether different.
FOLKLORE AND BELIEFS SURROUNDING THE PHOENIX
Throughout history, the phoenix has been entwined with various beliefs and folklore. In alchemy, the phoenix symbolized the Philosopher’s Stone, an alchemical substance that could supposedly turn base metals into gold and even grant immortality. Much like the phoenix, the stone represents the idea of transformation and the pursuit of perfection.
In Persian mythology, the phoenix is known as the Simurgh, a benevolent, mythical bird that purifies the land and bestows blessings. Simurgh is often depicted as perching atop the Tree of Life, symbolizing wisdom and the cyclical nature of life.
WHY IS THE PHOENIX OFTEN DEPICTED STANDING ON AN EGG
Interestingly, the phoenix is often depicted standing on an egg. Here in Savannah, Georgia, the entrance to the Colonial Park Cemetery has an image of what appears to be a phoenix standing on an egg. The lovely image was commissioned and erected by the Savannah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1913 in memory of the American Revolutionary war patriots resting in Colonial Park cemetery.
At first, I thought it was an eagle, but my dad pointed out that he believed it to be a phoenix. After realizing it is standing on an egg, I believe that, too. Just like the phoenix, the egg symbolizes life and birth, and when combined with the phoenix, there is a theme of resurrection. The coupling suggests that even as the phoenix is born anew from the ashes, it also carries the potential for future life within it.
The image of the phoenix on an egg also hints at the dual nature of existence—life and death, creation and destruction—coexisting in a delicate balance. The egg represents the unhatched potential of life and the promise of new beginnings, while the phoenix embodies the culmination of one cycle and the preparation of the next. The bird’s association with fire, both a destructive and purifying force, emphasizes that new life can only emerge after the old has been destroyed.
Also, the egg beneath the phoenix could be seen as a reminder of life’s vulnerability. Just as an egg is fragile and requires protection, life too is delicate and must be nurtured through its various stages. By standing guard over the egg, the phoenix represents the protective forces that ensure that life continues, even after the trials of death.
Another interesting thing to note is that birds—unlike our mythical phoenix—cannot stand on round objects like an egg. This added element speaks to the magical qualities of a phoenix.
The phoenix was such a powerful symbol that “both the eagle and the phoenix appeared together in the design suggested by the third Great Seal committee.” An eagle was ultimately chosen, but this shows how deep the symbolism of the phoenix was to our founding fathers.
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S THE PHOENIX PORTRAIT
Another interesting tidbit to add: Queen Elizabeth I of England, who lived between 1533 and 1601, had a portrait commissioned titled “The Phoenix” portrait. In it, she wears an elaborate gown with a brooch at her breast. The jewel is that of a Phoenix. The Phoenix became associated with the Virgin Queen in the 1570s as an emblem of rebirth. By wearing it, she promised the people that, like the Phoenix, she could regenerate the dynasty. She didn’t need a husband and children to have a legacy.
WHAT THE PHOENIX TEACHES US
While studying the Phoenix, I’ve come to realize something I’d never really thought about before—it possesses all of life within it. A phoenix doesn’t need a mate, a family, a friend—or anything outside itself to birth something. It lives, acquires the knowledge of an age, then builds its own pyre, sets itself aflame, and births a new bird from the ashes. It speaks to the human condition in a profound and moving way. None of us need anything outside ourselves to build and create a meaningful and beautiful life. Family, partners, friends, and work are all good, but the source of our greatness is within us—not outside of us. We are wielding the sword, the paintbrush, the pen. The phoenix teaches us that, to a degree, we are the masters of our fates. That’s why its story has resonated with people throughout the ages. That’s why the myth of the phoenix continues to spark our interest.
So, I’ll leave you with a few questions to ask yourself:
- Are you building or creating something meaningful?
- Do you believe you have everything you need to do it within you?
- Have you witnessed a phoenix rise in someone you know?
- If you were to rise yourself, what would that look like?
I’m asking myself these same questions. I’ve long been held back by limiting beliefs and have allowed the opinions of others to guide me nowhere. Studying the phoenix has taught me that I have a quiet but powerful strength within me to rise above all the stuff that has plagued my path. I, too, will rise. And so will you. And in our personal growth, we’ll rise and thrive as a society. We are the makers. We are the phoenix.
