Phoenix

Have you ever wondered “why our university has no publications or weblogs written in English”? We’ve been asking ourselves the same question over the past few months and you know what? We have decided to stop wondering and begin to amaze!

Here it is! The very first English weblog of our university. But first, we had to vote for a perfect title, one that could reflect our goals and visions properly. A unique and magical one. In terms of magic, nothing is more significant than Phoenix for it has a prominent presence, and a rich history in various myths and cultures.

That’s why we finally decided to go with “Phoenix”. You probably have heard about this magnificent bird, but let me give you a more in-depth description of this wonderful creature and the reason why we chose it for the title of our weblog.

Basically, phoenix is considered to be a magical bird in different myths and cultures and it is believed that phoenix first appeared in Greek or Egyptian mythology and then it found its way into other countries like Iran, China, and India. Nowadays it’s known as an international symbol.

In Egyptian mythology, phoenix is assumed to have scarlet and golden feathers resembling the glowing hue of the rising sun and apparently she can live up to a thousand years.

According to ancientpages.com “When Phoenix reaches the end of her life, she sets the nest and herself on fire and is burned to ashes. Shortly, the Phoenix rises again and begins her life anew. In some traditions, the new Phoenix gathers up the old ashes and takes them to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis to offer them to the Sun God. The ashes that are laid on the Altar of the Sun are said to have the power of bringing a dead person back to life.”

All we could ever wish for, in a word; “Phoenix” – a beautiful, wise, caring, bird that is believed to provide help for those who deserve it in desperate times. A bird whose tear can heal the most fatal wounds, and whose song can conciliate the most painful grievances. A bird who rises from her own ashes to glorious beauty.

Hoping that this weblog can stand as a sign of our strength as a group, our friendship as classmates, and that it can inspire us to “rise and shine”, we have named it Phoenix. May it live a long, glorious life like the magical owner of its name, and heal the wounds of ignorance.

On behalf of all the writers of Phoenix, I would like to invite every one of you to join us on a great new adventure that we are about to embark upon.

Special thanks to Miss. Khalilian (the weblog's supervisor) and my dear friends Ardalan Ladan & Amin Fijani for proofreading & editing.