Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, is located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. It frequently erupts, and its lava flows often create dramatic night-time visuals. In this specific instance, Italian photographer Davide Basile captured a rare and striking image of lava flowing in a pattern resembling a phoenix, the mythical bird symbolizing rebirth. The photo was taken from Riposto, a town on the eastern coast of Sicily, offering a panoramic view of Mount Etna’s fiery activity. This eruption did occur recently and has been featured across news and social media for its surreal visual — a glowing outline in the night sky that unmistakably resembles a bird in flight. While this phenomenon is naturally occurring, the phoenix shape is coincidental and a result of the way the lava traveled and cooled along the mountain's slope.