The Benu Bird: Good Tidings

A Symbol of Rebirth
Because of its association with rebirth, the heron also became a manifestation of the resurrected Osiris. There are depictions of the heron wearing the 'atef'-crown normally worn by Osiris and also of it sitting in the sacred willow tree of Osiris. The Benu Bird can herald the coming of good tidings

The Benu bird is the prototype of the Greek Phoenix, which Herodotos some 2000 years later than its first appeareance in ancient texts confused it with. True, there are mythological similarities between these two creatures, they are both linked to the sun and to rebirth but the differences are greater than the similarites and revolve around other matters. In the Middle Kingdom, the Benu was called the 'Ba' (physical manifestation of the soul) of the sun-god Re . In the Book of the Dead from the New Kingdom, however, the Benu is represented as a grey heron (Ardea cinera), with two long head plumes and a straight beak. Though primarily associated with Atum and Re, the resurrection aspect led to an association with Osiris and the heron was sometimes depicted wearing the 'atef' crown.