Phoenix. Classical literature references to Phoenix (Φοῖνιξ = Lat. Phoenix) include (1) the son of Agenor who was the eponymous founder of the Phoenicians (Poeni), (2) the son of Amyntor who was Achilles' aged tutor, (3) the mythical Firebird; the phoenix is also the common name for the date palm that grows ubiquitously in the western Mediterranean basin. Because the Firebird abides more completely than the others in the classical tradition, Reid's OGCMA treated only the mythical bird s.v. "Phoenix."

First mentioned by Herodotus in his ethnographic description of Egypt, the phoenix was said in Egyptian mythology to be a miraculous bird, similar in form to an eagle, but with red, purple, and gold plumage. Every five hundred years (Hdt. 2.73; others mention different frequencies), it made a nest of aromatic plants and then died. From the nest a new phoenix arose, carrying the body of its parent to Egyptian Heliopolis, where a funeral was held in the Temple of Helios (Sun). Other versions of the myth state that the phoenix built its own funeral pyre when it approached death and was resurrected from its own ashes. Later the subject of several Latin works, the myth of the phoenix, with its theme of birth and resurrection, became popular with Christians and pagan believers in mystery cults.

Further Reference. Hubaux, J. and M. Leroy. 1939. Le mythe du phénix dans les littératures grecque et latine. Paris.
“Phoenix” Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: M. Landfester,

*NB: Reid provides "classical sources" for Vergil and Lucius Manilius which I cannot substantiate.