Why is there a phoenix on the British cover of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?

Question

The Phoenix is not a main character at all in the book, even though it is in the title, so why is it the cover?

Answer 1

The phoenix is the unofficial symbol of the Order of the Phoenix. Beyond that, a phoenix is a bird that is reborn from the ashes- a common theme in Harry Potter, and in the fifth book. It's in this book that Harry forms Dumbledore's Army - a younger alternative/new generation of the Order, thus its being "reborn."

Answer 2

Phoenix. Order of the PHOENIX. I'm pretty sure it's self explanatory.

♥Graceful Little Alice♥

Answer 3

Well, the Phoenix symbolizes the Order, so it makes sense.

Answer 4

I've always thought this was odd. It's the only british children's cover not to show a scene from the book, and the only one not to show Harry. My guess is that the artist thought that the phoenix would be more dramatic than a shelf of crystal balls on the cover.

Answer 5

I believe that Fawkes(the phoenix) is a sort of "mascot" of the Order; i.e. they probably built their organization around the "rebirth" and "light" of a phoenix as compared to the killing and darkness and destruction of the enemy. Therefore, it figures prominently on the cover.

Answer 6

The pheonix represents the order of the Pheonix...The name was Inspired by Dumbledore's Pheonix Fawkes...so it seems natural that the symbol of the Order of the Pheonix would be a Pheonix...