Out of the ashes of ancient cultures rose a new and more beautiful city, the city of Phoenix. The prehistoric Hohokam Indians first settled the area about 300 BC and dug a system of extensive irrigation canals for farming. However the Indian society disappeared in the 1400s. Jack Swilling and "Lord Darrell" Duppa resettled the area about 1867 and named the city Phoenix after the legendary Phoenix bird that could regenerate itself. The irrigation canals were restored for farming, and ranching and prospecting began in the surrounding area. The city quickly became a thriving economic center.

The Phoenix bird is symbolic of rebirth, hope, purity, chastity, marriage, faith, constancy, summer, eternity, immortality, and light. It is an image of the cosmic fire some believe the world began and will end in. "Phoenix" is the Greek word for dark red or purple. The Phoenix bird was given that name for its color.

According to the Greek legend, the Phoenix is a lone beautiful bird, the only one of its kind. It is said to live for nearly five hundred years where it then begins to build a nest of dry sticks and twigs while at the same time singing a melodious dirge. When completed it then flaps its wings furiously setting the nest on fire. Resting on top of the burning pile it slowly consumes itself into ashes. It then rises from the ashes a new bird equally alone and unique to live for another five hundred years. The bird not only represents immortality but also an individual who stands apart from the rest, a person of rare qualities.

Wherever it is found, the phoenix is associated with resurrection, immortality, triumph over adversity, and that which rises out of the ashes. Thus it became a favorite symbol on early Christian tombstones. In chapters 25-26 of his letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement, Bishop of Rome, upheld the legendary phoenix as an evidence of Christ's ability to accomplish the resurrection of the faithful. He quotes Job as saying, "Thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine, which has suffered all these things."