LEGEND OF THE PHOENIX

The Sweet Sounding Cry CONCEPTUALIZATION

The phoenix was a legendary bird connected with sun worship in ancient Egypt and Classical antiquity. The Egyptian phoenix was said to be the size of an eagle, with bright scarlet and gold plumage and a sweet-sounding cry. There was only one phoenix at any given period, and it lived for a very long time—no ancient source gave it a life span of less than 500 years. As its time came to pass, the phoenix built a nest of aromatic branches and spices, set it ablaze, and was consumed by the flames. After embalming its father’s ashes in an egg of myrrh, the phoenix flew with the ashes to Heliopolis (“City of the Sun”) in Egypt, where it deposited them on the altar in the temple of the Egyptian deity of the sun. According to one version of the tale, the dying phoenix flew to Heliopolis and immolated itself in the altar fire, from which the young phoenix rose. The Egyptians linked the phoenix to eternity, and this symbolism was popular in late antiquity. The phoenix was associated with eternal Rome, and it appears on late Roman Empire coinage as an emblem of the Eternal City. It was also widely understood as a metaphor of resurrection and life after death, which resonated with emergent Christianity. In Islamic mythology, the phoenix was associated with the “anqa” (Persian: smorgh), a huge mysterious bird (probably a heron) that was created by God with all perfections but later became a plague and was killed.

I will be creating a mechanism that can be attached to a source of light in order to create a reimagining of sort on the resurrection and life after death through referencing the immolated Phoenix in the altar fire, from which the young phoenix rose and began a new life. Upon completion, the mechanism would allow the user to extend or retract the “lamp shades” as they seem fit to hopefully create a unique visual experience.

Bibliography

Phoenix (no date) Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Available at: https:// www.britannica.com/topic/ phoenix-mythological-bird (Accessed: March 22, 2023).

The curious symbolism of the Phoenix in literature and myth (2021) Interesting Literature. Available at: https://interestingliterature. com/2021/04/phoenix-symbolism-in-literature-and-myth/ (Accessed: March 22, 2023).

History of the City Bird (no date) City of Phoenix. Available at: https:// www.phoenix.gov/pio/ official-city-bird-logo/ history-of-the-city-bird#:~:text=The%20phoenix%20 bird%20symbolizes%20 immortality,associated%20 with%20the%20sun%20 god. (Accessed: March 22, 2023).

“phoenix allegory flying over Egypt”

Images generated from MidJourney

“The Egyptian phoenix the size of an eagle, with bright scarlet and gold plumage and a sweet sounding cry”

All three images illustrate The phoenix burning itself to ashes after 500 years of living and emerges again having its youth restored.

1- [image obtained through the Manuscript of Physiologus “Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 6908 (Fürstenfelder Physiologus), folio 85r” Produced 14th century Munich, Germany].

2- The burning building could be a reference to one account of the story: A cleric at Heliopolis covers an altar with twigs in early spring. The phoenix arrives in town, sees the altar, starts a fire on it, and is consumed by it. [image obtained through the Manuscript of “Bestiaire of Guillaume le Clerc” Produced in France, end of the 13th century].

3- [image obtained through the Manuscript of “Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 (Aberdeen Bestiary), folio 56r” produced in England c 1200.

Light Source

As the model is pulled upwards the mechanism allows for the arms to open up and extend.

In addition to that as the model slides up, the tension created from the model being pulled away from the base allows the second part of the hand to extend due to the strings being attached to the base.

My model’s vision was created in the hopes of capturing the elegance and transformative power of fire through all of the tales told about the phoenix.

Explanation

As the model slides up and opens its arms to allow the light to escape and shine through the fabrics, it shows as if the phoenix has risen from its ashes to begin a new existence full of promise.

It represents hope and resilience in the face of adversity, as it cycles through life and transformation, teaching us to accept change, let go of the past, and have confidence in the future.