Chapter XXV.—The Phœnix an Emblem of Our Resurrection.

Let us consider that wonderful sign [of the resurrection] which takes place in eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about.  There is a certain bird which is called a phœnix.  This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred years.  And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies.  But as the flesh decays a certain kind of worm is produced, which, being nourished by the juices of the deed bird, brings forth feathers.  Then, when it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest in which are the bones of its parent, and bearing these it passes123    I. διανύει (accomplishes its journey). from the land of Arabia into Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis.  And, in open day, flying124    I. omits ἐπιπτὰς (on the wing, flying). in the sight of all men, it places them on the altar of the sun, and having done this, hastens back to its former abode.  The priests then inspect the registers of the dates, and find that it has returned exactly as the five hundredth year was completed.125    This fable respecting the phœnix is mentioned by Herodotus (ii. 73), and by Pliny (Nat. Hist., x. 2). and is used as above by Tertullian (De Resurr., § 13), and by others of the fathers.

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΚΕ’. Ἴδωμεν τὸ παράδοξον σημεῖον τὸ γινόμενον ἐν τοῖς ἀνατολικοῖς τόποις, τουτέστιν τοῖς περὶ τὴν Ἀραβίαν. ”Oρνεον γάρ ἐστιν, ὃ προσονομάζεται φοίνιξ· τοῦτο μονογενὲς ὑπάρχον ζῇ ἔτη πεντακόσια, γενόμενόν τε ἤδη πρὸς ἀπόλυσιν τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτὸ σηκὸν ἑαυτῷ ποιεῖ ἐκ λιβάνου καὶ σμύρνης καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀρωμάτων, εἰς ὃν πληρωθέντος τοῦ χρόνου εἰσέρχεται καὶ τελευτᾷ. Σηπομένης δὲ τῆς σαρκὸς σκώληξ τις γεννᾶται, ὃς ἐκ τῆς ἰκμάδος τοῦ τετε λευτηκότος ζóου ἀνατρεφόμενος πτεροφυεῖ· εἶτα γενναῖος γενόμενος αἴρει τὸν σηκὸν ἐκεῖνον, ὅπου τὰ ὀστᾶ τοῦ προγεγονότος ἐστίν, καὶ ταῦτα βαστάζων διανύει ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀραβικῆς χώρας ἕως τῆς Aἰγύπτου εἰς τὴν λεγομένην Ἡλιούπολιν. Καὶ ἡμέρας, βλεπόντων πάντων, ἐπιπτὰς ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ ἡλίου βωμὸν τίθησιν αὐτὰ καὶ οὕτως εἰς τοὐπίσω ἀφορμᾷ. Oἱ οὖν ἱερεῖς ἐπισκέπτονται τὰς ἀναγραφὰς τῶν χρόνων καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὸν πεντακοσιοστοῦ ἔτους πεπληρωμένου ἐληλυθέναι.