Re: a real Phoenix

[Christopher Taylor <ck.taylor@auckland.ac.nz>]

'Phoinix' (latinised to 'Phoenix') is Greek for 'crimson' or 'purple' -
hence Phoenicia is named after the purple dye (murex) that it was famous for
producing, and the red stain that this dye left on the hands of those who
made it. My guess would be that flamingos are _Phoenicopterus_ because of
their 'crimson wings'. This doesn't rule out an association with the bird
'Phoinix', if a double meaning is intended.
'Phoinix' is also translatable as 'date palm'. I don't know if there's an
etymological connection between 'dates' and 'crimson', or which of the
meanings the bird 'Phoinix' is named after - while the Phoenix may have been
thought of as crimson in colour, the date palm was traditionally the tree on
which it set itself alight.

    Cheers,

        Christopher Taylor

On 15/6/05 8:41 pm, "Raymond Ancog" <rayancog@pldtdsl.net> wrote:

> Ian Paulsen wrote:
>>  I was wondering if there is a prehistoric bird (or perhaps living?)that
>> matches the mythological Phoenix?
> 
> Well, flamingos are traditionally classified in the Phoenicopteridae
> family, and sometimes in their own order Phoenicopteriformes. Anyone here
> knows why they were given those names?
> 
> Raymond Thaddeus C. Ancog
> Mines and Geosciences Bureau
> Philippines 
> 
>