"_Rara avis in terris._"
An imaginary bird, described by ancient writers as in form like an eagle,
but more beautiful in its plumage. Among the ancient classical writers it
was an emblem of those existing in paradise, enjoying eternal youth and
never-ending pleasure. Tacitus describes the phœnix as a singular bird,
consecrated to the sun, and distinguished by its rich appearance and
variegated colours. Herodotus naïvely says: "I never saw one, indeed, but
in a picture, but if he is like his picture his plumage is partly golden
and partly red." Philippe de Thaun says: "The phœnix lives five hundred
years and a little more, when it will become young again and leave its old
age." It was said to be sometimes seen in Egypt, and only one was believed
to exist at a time. When it is advanced in age and its time of change is
at hand, it hides itself away somewhere in Arabia, and makes itself a nest
of the rarest spices, which, by the heat of the sun or other secret
agency, and the fanning of the sacred bird's own wings, soon rises into
flames and consumes it. Out of its ashes rises another with new life and
vigour to pursue the same never-ending life and re-birth.
_Fum_ or _Fung_ (the phœnix) is one of the four symbolical animals
supposed to preside over the destinies of the Chinese Empire; the sacred
_Ho-ho_ or phœnix also figures with the dragon largely in Japanese
mythology, and bears a striking analogy to the bird of classic fame. It is
fabled to have a miraculous existence, and is sent on earth for the
performance of extraordinary works in the manifestation of the Divinity
and in the development of humanity and nature. It appears at different
stages of the world's progress and in successive ages; after the
accomplishment of which it reascends to heaven to come down again at the
commencement of a new era.
From the pagans the Early Christians adopted the symbol, and with them
its significance had reference to the resurrection and immortality. Like
the pelican "in her piety," it was peculiarly an emblem of our Saviour in
His resurrection. As the phœnix when old and wearied seeks the rays of the
sun to consume its body, again to be revived in life and vigour, so the
Christian, worn and exhausted by worldly labour and suffering, turns to
the Son of Righteousness for regeneration and newness of life. Tertullian
makes the phœnix an image of the resurrection.
In corroboration of this it must be borne in mind that Jesus Christ, who
died A.D. 34, is termed _the phœnix_ by monastic writers.
The Phœnix period or cycle is said to consist of 300 years. "The bird
of wonder" is said to have appeared in Egypt five times: