The Benu comes from ancient Egyptian mythology. It is a bird that was born at creation and was worshiped at the city of Heliopolis. It is a heron like bird with a crest of two long feathers that come from the rear of its head. The Benu is reborn each day after its journey through the night. The Benu is associated with the gods of the sun; it accompanies the souls of the dead on the boat of Ra on its journey through the underworld.

The Benu was the first creature to come from the sea at creation and the first piece of land it stood on a temple was built this is said to be Heliopolis.

It is thought that the Benu bird is much like that of the Phoenix. The Greek Historian Herodotus visited Egypt and described the bird that the priests showed him as the western bird Phoenix.