phoenixes

[Hillman, Lee]

No: HPFGUIDX 20416

Christine's question:

>    Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 18:06:42 -0000
>    From: cetoll-calafiore at yorktel.com
> Subject: Phoenixes
> 
> I have a question for whoever wants to answer it. I was just 
> re-reading CoS and came to the part where Fawkes dies and is reborn. 
> Does it say anywhere, or does anyone have any theories on how often a 
> phoenix dies and is reborn?
> 
> Christine
> 
 Was followed by several well-grounded posts on classical phoenixes.
However, I quote the only opinion that matters, that of the object of all
our affection, in the person of Newt Scamander:

"PHOENIX
"M.O.M. Classification: XXXX (11)

"The phoenix is a magnificent, swan-sized, scarlet bird, with a long golden
tail, beak, and talons. It nests on mountain peaks and is found in Egypt,
India, and China. The phoenix lives to an immense age as it can regenerate,
bursting into flames when its body begins to fail and rising from the ashes
as a chick. The phoenix is a gentle creature that has never been known to
kill and eats only herbs. Like the Diricawl...it can disappear and reappear
at will. Phoenix song is magical; it is reputed to increase the courage of
the pure of heart and to strike fear into the hearts of the impure. Phoenix
tears have powerful healing properties.

"(11) The phoenix gains a XXXX rating not because it is aggressive, but
because very few wizards have ever succeeded in domesticating it."

---Scamander, Newt. _Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them_. London:
Obscurus Books, 1927 (52nd ed.), p. 32.

(AKA, Rowling, J.K. _FB_. New York: Scholastic Press, 2001.)


The book strongly implies the existence of more than one phoenix at a time.
Furthermore, it implies that, as others suggested, they live lifetimes of
more or less a normal bird length, then are reborn, and that it is this
cycle of rebirth that accounts for their extraordinary lifespans. However,
her description also does not rule out the more classical definition, either
that only one exists at a time (for ex., we know Fawkes only ever gave 2
feathers), or that the overall life expectancy is about 500 years.

However, personally I agree with Christine herself and Banjoken, who cite
Dumbledore's attitude toward Fawkes as one who has "been there, done that"
many times before, and conclude that Mr. Scamander's implication is that
phoenixes "molt" on a similar timetable to other large birds, but that their
molting is actually the "burning" that Dumbledore refers to in COS, ch. 12.

Gwendolyn G.