A Phoenix can live from a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix will arise, reborn anew to live once again. The legend of the phoenix was something my mother spoke of. My father saw it as a myth but in fact it is very much reality.