It's quite the tale, and it all starts with the Phoenix.
Now, we all know the story of Adam and Eve and the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. But did you know that the animals got in on the action too? According to legend, Eve offered the forbidden fruit to all the animals. But one bird, the Phoenix, refused. And for that act of restraint, it was rewarded with eternal life. Ginzberg, in his Legends of the Jews, tells us that after living a thousand years, the Phoenix doesn't simply die. Instead, its body shrinks, its feathers fall away, until it’s as small as an egg – the seed of the next Phoenix!
But the Phoenix isn't just immortal; it's also incredibly important to the world. It’s even called "the guardian of the terrestrial sphere." Imagine this majestic creature soaring through the sky, keeping pace with the sun. According to tradition, the Phoenix spreads its wings to catch the sun’s fiery rays. Without it, the earth would be scorched! Talk about a vital role.
And get this: inscribed on its right wing, in letters so huge they stretch for about four thousand stadia (that’s an ancient unit of measurement!), are the words: "Neither the earth produces me, nor the heavens, but only the wings of fire." Where does this magnificent being get its sustenance? Not from earthly food, but from the manna of heaven and the dew of the earth. And even its waste is special – a worm that produces the cinnamon used by kings and princes!
Enoch, who, as the Bible tells us, was translated directly to heaven, saw these Phoenix birds. He described them as wondrous creatures, with the feet and tails of lions and the heads of crocodiles. Their appearance, he said, was a vibrant purple, like a rainbow. And their size? A staggering nine hundred measures! They have twelve wings like angels, and they attend the chariot of the sun, bringing heat and dew as God commands. In the morning, as the sun begins its journey, the Phoenixes and the chalkidri (another mythical bird) sing a song, and every bird flaps its wings, rejoicing and praising the Giver of light. It’s a beautiful image, isn't it? A cosmic chorus greeting each new day.
But birds aren't the only creatures with legendary properties. Among reptiles, we find the salamander and the shamir. The salamander, according to tradition, originates from a fire of myrtle wood that's been kept burning steadily for seven years through magic. It's no bigger than a mouse, but it’s incredibly powerful. Smear yourself with its blood, and you're invulnerable. And the web woven by it? A talisman against fire! Talk about a useful creature. We're told that the people who lived at the time of the great flood were arrogant enough to think they could protect themselves from a fiery deluge with salamander blood.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? About the power of belief, the stories we tell ourselves, and the creatures that capture our imagination. Are these literal truths? Perhaps not. But as we find in Midrash Rabbah and other ancient texts, they offer us a glimpse into the hopes, fears, and dreams of generations past. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of magic too.