{"id":8289,"date":"2022-01-19T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/?p=8289"},"modified":"2022-01-22T22:42:45","modified_gmt":"2022-01-23T03:42:45","slug":"the-phoenix-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/2022\/01\/19\/the-phoenix-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"The Phoenix Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although it does not often get the same attention as other wondrous and fiery creatures, such as dragons<\/a>, the marvelous phoenix has an equally deep and ancient history. One of the oldest known accounts of the phoenix myth comes from Horapollo’s Hieroglyphica<\/em>, translated into ancient Greek around the 5th<\/sup> century B.C.E. The phoenix, called benu<\/em> by the Egyptian author, becomes increasingly popular, appearing in works by Greek authors, such as Herodotus\u2019s Histories<\/em> and Antiphanes of Athens\u2019 Homopatrioi<\/em>, and in works by Latin authors, such as Tacitus\u2019s Annals<\/em>, Ovid\u2019s Metamorphoses<\/em>, Pliny the Elder\u2019s Natural History<\/em>, and of course Lactantius\u2019 De ave phoenice<\/em>, which is adapted, expanded and allegorized in the Old English Phoenix<\/em> poem found in the medieval codex known as the Exeter Book (Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Phoenix rising in Aberdeen Bestiary, Aberdeen University Library, Univ Lib. MS 24, f.55v.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned in my previous blog<\/a> centered on translating the Exeter Book Phoenix<\/em>, the phoenix bird also appears in the Abrahamic tradition, from the bird of paradise (chol<\/em>) in commentaries on Jewish scripture (especially the Midrash and Talmud) to the phoenix\u2019s allegorization and comparisons with Christ himself by early Christian authors. Sometimes, these early Christian authors would use the phoenix as evidence for the possibility of Christ\u2019s resurrection, as can be observed in Clement of Rome\u2019s Epistula ad Corinthos<\/em>, Tertullian\u2019s De resurrectione carnis<\/em>, St. Epiphanius\u2019 Physiologus<\/em> and in St. Ambrose\u2019s De excessu<\/em> Satyri<\/em>. This moralizing interpretation of the phoenix extends into the modern era and continues unto our own contemporary age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dumbledore’s phoenix, Fawks, comes to Harry Potter’s aid in “The Chamber of Secrets” <\/em>(2002).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Within the realm of fantasy literature and popular fiction, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix<\/em> highlight the longstanding association with the phoenix and moral goodness, in this book the day-saving gang of noble, good and trustworthy witches and wizards, also called as Dumbledore\u2019s army, are known as the Order of the Phoenix. It is this group which twice stands up to Voldemort and his Death-eaters, and each time they succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, the ultimate white wizard in J.K. Rowling\u2019s fantasy world, Albus Dumbledore, has his own pet phoenix named Fawks, who swiftly delivers the sword of Godrick Gryffindor to Harry Potter in his moment of need and bravely pecks the monstrous basilisk\u2019s eyes out in The Chamber of Secrets<\/em>. Later, Fawks saves his master from unpleasant arrest and an uncomfortable stay in the magical prison Azkaban in The Order of the Phoenix<\/em>. This extremely positive association is likely a result of medieval Christological allegory often linked the phoenix, which parallels Christ in its death and rebirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fawks helps Dumbledore escape from the Ministry of Magic in “The Order of the Phoenix” <\/em>(2007).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the Exeter Book Phoenix<\/em>, this allegory is emphasized and dramatized as the phoenix is aligned with both paradise in heaven and compared to the westward journey of the sun. Moreover, the mythical bird\u2014like the sun\u2014is repeatedly connected to images of glistening treasure and beautiful jewels. In my translation of the Old English Phoenix<\/em><\/a>, lines 85-119, I do my best to preserve as much of the original poem\u2019s language and semantics as possible, and even at times imitate the cadence, but as with my earlier translation<\/a> of previous lines 1-49, I take certain creative liberties and mobilize poetic licensure when I feel it enhances my English translation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned for additional forthcoming translations from the Exeter Book Phoenix<\/em>, reborn as modern English poems!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richard Fahey
PhD in English
University of Notre Dame

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Reading<\/em><\/strong>

Badke, David. \u201cPhoenix<\/a>.\u201d The Medieval Bestiary<\/em>, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fahey, Richard. \u201cThe Phoenix (85-119)<\/a>.\u201d Medieval Studies Research Blog: Medieval Poetry Project,<\/em> 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014. \u201cResurrecting the Phoenix<\/a>.\u201d Medieval Studies Research Blog<\/em>, 2015.

\u2014. \u201cThe Phoenix (1-49)<\/a>.\u201d Medieval Studies Research Blog: Medieval Poetry Project,<\/em> 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fahs, Maria. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in Medieval Bestiaries<\/a>.” Medieval Studies Research Blog<\/em>, 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hill, John Spencer. \u201cThe Phoenix.\u201d Religion and Literature<\/em> 16.2 (1994): 61-66.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kosloski, Philip. \u201cChristian symbolism of the Phoenix (and why we chose it for our new comic book)<\/a>.\u201d Voyage<\/em>, 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014. \u201cThis is how the phoenix became a Christian symbol<\/a>.\u201d Aleteia<\/em>, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niehoff, M. R. \u201cThe Phoenix in Rabbinic Literature\u201d The Harvard Theological Review <\/em>89.3 (1996).]: 245-265.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petersen, Helle Falcher. \u201cThe Phoenix: The Art of Literary Recycling\u201d NM<\/em> 101 (2000): 375\u2013386.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steen, Janie. Verse<\/em> and Virtuosity: the adaptation of Latin rhetoric in Old English poetry<\/em>. University of Toronto Press: Toronto, ON, 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorensen, Ingrid. \u201cDumbledore\u2019s Phoenix and the Medieval Bestiary<\/a>.\u201d Getty<\/em>: Book of Beasts<\/em>, 2018.

Videen, Hana. \u201cPhoenix<\/a>.\u201d D\u0113or-hord: a Medieval and Modern Bestiary<\/em>, 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although it does not often get the same attention as other wondrous and fiery creatures, such as dragons, the marvelous phoenix has an equally deep and ancient history. One of the oldest known accounts of the phoenix myth comes from Horapollo’s Hieroglyphica, translated into ancient Greek around the 5th century B.C.E. The phoenix, called benu … <\/p>\n

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