The newborn Phoenix is destined to live as long as its previous incarnation. The bird is then consumed by the fire of it's nest, but from its ashes a young Phoenix arises, reborn anew. It has a 500 year life-cycle, near the end of which, it builds itself a nest of incense and sacred materials that it then ignites. There is only ever one Phoenix alive at a time. The Phoenix is a mythical bird with colorful plumage that is said to be either from Arabia or India.
And he is a full fair bird to look upon, against the sun, for he shineth full gloriously and nobly. And he hath a crest of feathers upon his head more great than the peacock hath and is neck his yellow after colour of an oriel that is a stone well shining, and his beak is coloured blue as ind (indigo) and his wings be of purple colour, and his tail is barred overthwart (crosswise) with green and yellow and red. This bird men see often-time fly in those countries and he is not mickle more than an eagle. The most extensive and imaginative description of a Phoenix comes from " The Travels of Sir John Mandeville," which was a supposed travel memoire written in the 14th century CE by an unknown author:
In Medieval Christian Bestiaries, the Phoenix was considered to be Phoenician purple in color, as an explanation for its name. In Roman wall art, the Phoenix is depicted as having a crest similar to a peacock's. According to Herodotus, the Phoenix is an eagle-like bird with red and gold feathers. The appearance of the Phoenix differs over time depending on the source. 5.2 Guillaume le Clerc de Normandie's Bestiaire.5 The Phoenix in Medieval Christian Bestiaries.