The Constellation
Phoenix |
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Mythology and History |
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The Firebird. |
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The Phoenix was a bird with a beautiful voice and feathers
of gold and red. The bird lived for a long time, usually 500 years.
When a phoenix reached the end of its life, it would build a nest of herbs
and twigs, light it and throw itself into the flames. A new phoenix
would be born from the ashes. The phoenix was associated with life,
rebirth and immortality. The bird appeared on ancient Egyptian and
Roman coins. |
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Phoenix is one of the Southern Hemisphere constellations
introduced by Johann Bayer in 1603. The constellation is in fact
rather like a large bird, rising into the air. |
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The constellation has been known as "The Boat" by the Arabs,
then it became an eagle or other type of bird, so Bayer's decision to call
it a phoenix does have some historical beginnings. |
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