This is a tiki of the Tane, from the Maori culture. Tane was considered the forest or bird god. Tane in the creator of the world, and its definition can interchangeably mean either forest or bird. This culture was another one to believe that a bird created the world, and therefore the birds were sacred. If any had to be killed for food, it was done with the utmost respect.

Ancient Egypt: the Mythology is *the* most comprehensive site on ancient Egyptian mythology on the web. It features over 40 gods and goddesses, 30 symbols and complete myths. Also featured are articles about egyptian culture and history.

Ancient legend paints a picture of a magical bird, radiant and shimmering, which lives for several hundred years before it dies by bursting into flames. It is then reborn from the ashes, to start a new, long life. So powerful is the symbolism that it is a motif and image that is still used commonly today in popular culture and folklore. This is the majestic phoenix.

beautiful scene

Visit the world of the Ancient Egyptians and discover facts about the Bennu. Fascinating facts and information about the Bennu that featured in the history of ancient Egypt. The symbolism of the Bennu.

This is a hippogriff, or type of griffin. The hippogriff is traditionally described as being a mix of an eagle, lion, and horse. In some stories it was described as being fairly grotesque, or scary and evil. In movies like Harry Potter he is mostly kind but with the ability to be dangerous.

The aurora borealis can be red, which is another example of why some may have thought it was the phoenix. While it does not necessarily look like a bird, it could not be explained. This may be a really logical explanation as to why the 'phoenix' lived for hundreds of years, and why it was connected to being in control of the light.

Arkansas Archeology

I don't own nothing!I made this AMV just for fun!I like very much Harry Potter and also I love Dumbledore's bird Fawkes the phoenix...I made some clips with ...

This is the Chinese Feng-Huang. It is also a firebird, or phoenix. Again, it would be in control of the light, and possibly considered a god to some. Clearly from the picture it resembles our classic description of a phoenix, with its gold and red feathers. It also looks like a crane of sorts, which was a common bird in China.

Some believe that the aurora borealis was actually the phoenix. There are mini-glaciations that occur for 500 years at a time in all of the regions where the phoenix myth exists. Because the lights were beautiful and magical and not scientifically explainable, some think this phenomenon was believed to be a bird.

In northern Northwest Coast mythology, Raven is the powerful figure who transforms the world.

Some thought that the peacock was the real phoenix, or other mythical bird. In each culture that mythical birds were described there would exist a real bird that would fit the description of being large and beautiful. No doubt it is a magnificent bird, even if we do not believe it has any mystical qualities.

This plant is called a 'bird of paradise'. Many believe that the actual bird of paradise was the origin of many of our phoenix myths, but it was probably not created after the flower. It is still very pretty, and reminiscent of a phoenix in its brightly colored petals and leaves, and its funky shape that resembles a beak.

Bird of paradise, or what many believe is what the phoenix originated from. In many cultures that a phoenix existed, the bird of paradise could also be found. It is easy to see how this beautiful bird could be made into a myth. It also has gold and red feathers, making it a pretty perfect visual representation.

This is the book cover to the story about Raven. It is an Alaskan myth, and outlines how the Raven not only created the world, but was a trickster and transformed into a child to receive the light of the world. So although the raven is not a mythical bird, this story paints him as creator and god of light.