The Egyptian Bennu
The Bennu
Egyptian Origin
The Bennu
Egyptian Origin
“Come quick, Dr. Hirscheweikler!” yelled an enthusiastic college student named George, as he wiped away the sand from a spot on the floor of the temple, uncovering a bird-like creature. “I think I found a depiction of the Phoenix!”
“The Phoenix?” replied the doctor, and head archeologist of the site of the temple in Egypt. “You better not be finding the Phoenix in this temple!” The professor moved quickly from the other side of the room, peering over George’s shoulder. “That’s not a Phoenix,” said the doctor with relief, “that's the Bennu.”
“I’ve never heard of a Bennu,” replied George, “looks like a Phoenix to me, but you're the expert.”
“Well, in a way I guess you’re right,” conceded Dr. Hirscheweikler, “the Greeks got their myth of the Phoenix from the Egyptian myth of the Bennu. Do you see how it is depicted here as an eagle with a long straight back and two feathers on its head? Originally this would have been painted red and gold. Notice also the obelisk it is perched on. The Egyptians called this the Ben-Ben stone. This is obviously supposed to be a reference to the fabled city of Heliopolis, as the Greeks called it, or simply, the city of the sun.
The Bennu was believed to have created itself out of the sacred fire of the Persea tree, which was also supposedly at Heliopolis. As in the familiar Greek legend of the Phoenix, the Bennu too lived 500 years burning and resurrecting in the city of Heliopolis, but normally he lived in Arabia. It was believed that Osiris gave him the secret to eternal life.”
George, being an intelligent and gifted student asserted, “So the Bennu could have represented of the Egyptian Empire, or something.”
“It is more likely, that the bird represents the yearly flooding of the Nile, and can then be associated with agriculture, which means its myth is very old,” corrected Dr Hirscheweikler.
“Oh, so he could represent the fertility of the land or new life or something?” George was feeling a little inadequate.
“Exactly George. I need to get back to the others, but keep up the good work."