THE PHOINIX (or Phoenix) was a fabulous golden-red feathered bird whose body emitted rays of pure sunlight. The creature lived for at least five hundred years and roamed the lands of Arabia feeding upon oils of balsalm and frankinsense.

At its time of death a new-born Phoinix emerged fully-grown from its body and straightaway encased its parent in an egg of myrrh and conveyed it to the great Egyptian temple of the Sun in Heliopolis.

The Phoenix was a popular creature in Greek and Roman literature, and later occurs in Medieval bestiaries.