The Phoenix
An Unnatural Biography of a Mythical Beast
Joseph Nigg
Published by The University of Chicago Press, 2016
Arising triumphantly from the ashes of its
predecessor, the phoenix has been an enduring
symbol of resilience and renewal for thousands
of years. But how did this mythical bird
become so famous that it has played a part in
cultures around the world and throughout
human history? How much of its story do we
actually know? Here to offer a comprehensive
biography and engaging (un)natural history
of the phoenix is Joseph Nigg, esteemed expert
on mythical creatures - from griffins and
dragons to sea monsters.
Beginning in ancient Egypt and traveling
around the globe and through the centuries,
Nigg's vast and sweeping narrative takes readers
on a brilliant tour of the cross-cultural lore
of this famous, yet little-known, immortal bird.
Seeking both the similarities and the differences
in the phoenix's many myths and representations,
Nigg describes its countless permutations
over millennia, including legends of the
Chinese "phoenix," which was considered one
of the sacred creatures that presided over China's
destiny; classical Greece and Rome, where
it can be found in the writings of Herodotus
and Ovid; nascent and medieval Christianity,
in which it came to embody the resurrection;
and in Europe during the Renaissance, when
it was a popular emblem of royals. Nigg examines
the various phoenix traditions, the beliefs
and tales associated with them, their symbolic
and metaphoric use, the skepticism and speculation
they've raised, and their appearance
in religion, bestiaries, and even contemporary
popular culture, in which the ageless bird of
renewal is employed as a mascot and logo,
including for our own University of Chicago.
Never bested by hardship or defeated
by death, the phoenix is the ultimate icon of
hope and rebirth. And in The Phoenix: An
Unnatural Biography of a Mythical Beast, it finally
has its due - a complete chronicle worthy of
such a fantastic and phantasmal creature. This
entertaining and informative look at the life
and transformation of the phoenix will be the
authoritative source for anyone fascinated by
folklore and mythology, re-igniting our curiosity
about one of myth's greatest beasts.
Since publication of The Book of Gryphons in
1982, Joseph Nigg has explored the rich cultural
lives of mythical creatures in a variety of styles
and formats for readers of all ages. His book
have garnered multiple awards and have been
translated into more than twenty languages.
His most recent book, Sea Monsters: A Voyage
around the World's Most Beguiling Map, was also
published by the University of Chicago Press.
He lives in Denver.
(The text above comes from the inner flaps of the book)