One would hope that your vast education would have exposed you to the Phoenix, hott college girl.
In Ancient Egyptian mythology, the phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird. At the end of its life-cycle (which is anywhere from 300 to 1461 years), the phoenix builds itself a nest and that it then sets on fire. Both the nest and the bird burn fiercely and are reduced completely to ashes. However, a new young phoenix arises from the ashes. The new, young phoenix lives as long as the previous one at which time the cycle repeats.
Either that or I just like Phoenix, AZ.
-- Rob