The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

There is a bird which is called the Phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives 500 years; and when the time of its dissolution in death is at hand, it makes itself a sepulchre of frankincense and myrrh and other spices, and when the time is fulfilled it enters into it and dies.

Now, from the corruption of its flesh there springs a worm, which is nourished by the juices of the dead bird, and puts forth wings. Then, wrhen it has become strong, it takes up that sepulchre, in which are the bones of its predecessor, and carries them from the country of Arabia as far as Egypt until it reaches the city called Heliopolis,

and in the daylight in the sight of all it flies to the altar of the Sun, places them there, and then starts back to its former home.

Then the priests inspect the registers of dates, and they find that it has come at the fulfilment of the 500th year.[*](The same story, with variations, is found in Herodotus (ii. 73), Pliny (Nat. Hist. x. 2), etc. It was supposed by Christians to be sanctioned by the LXX version of Ps. xcii. 12, where there is a confusion between φοῖνιξ = phoenix, and φοῖνιξ = palm tree.)

Do we then consider it a great and wonderful[*](The resurrection promised in the Scriptures) thing that the creator of the universe will bring about the resurrection of those who served him in holiness, in the confidence of a good faith, when he shows us the greatness of his promise even through a bird?

For he says in one place And thou shalt raise me up, and I will praise thee, and I laid me down and slept, I rose up, for thou art with me.

And again Job says And thou shalt raise up this my flesh which has endured all these things.