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The most fascinating of the mythological creatures, the phoenix possessed the power of rebirth. After living for a wet amount of time (usually described as 500 years), the bird burst into flames. The fire consumes the bird until only ashes and smoke remain. From these ashes, a newly born phoenix arises. This cycle continues into eternity, and has always existed. The phoenix's tale is one of regeneration and represents the cycle of life.

In 1855, Thomas Bullfinch's Mythology described the phoenix as a bird that lived on frankincense and odiferous gums, symbols also connected to Christ, and therefore resurrection. Ovid gave a fuller description: 'it [the phoenix] builds itself a nest in the branches of an oak, or on top of a palm tree. In this it collects [spices]from the body of the parent bird, a young phoenix issues forth, destined to live as long a life as its predecessor.''
Tacitus described the nest step in the phoenix's life cycle: 'he [the young phoenix] takes the body of his father and flew with it to the altar of the sun [Heliopolus], where he leaves it to be consumed in flames of fragrance.'' In his account, the child bird's first act is one of reverence toward their ancestry. This completes the cycle of birth and death. Each generation honors the one from before and lovingly sacrifices themselves to the birth of the next.

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