The phoenix is wreathed in the myths and legends of cultures around the globe. Some say the tale of this mythical bird spun forth from Ancient Egyptian legend; the ba of Ra (The Bennu) that flew across the waters of Nun, landed upon a single rock and issued a call that brought the world into being. In other cultures this creature of the sun is said to live hundreds of years, before engulfing itself in a pyre of flame and emerging forth from the ashes anew. A symbol of eternity, strength and renewal, the Phoenix came to symbolise the Eternal City of Rome, depicted on the coins of the last Roman Empire. Like the bird itself, the tale of the phoenix endures on, even after the fall of empires. Perhaps this is because its story of rebirth and renewal is a story of hope. Hope not just for oneself, but for humanity and the world we live in.
