2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. It is an opportunity to recognize the importance of biodiversity for all life on Earth and to focus on the urgency of our challenge for the future.
For this occasion, Ibsar has highlighted in this year’s calendar the importance of native tree species and how they have influenced human history.
Tree species of the Mediterranean and of Lebanon in particular, have accompanied the rise and fall of empires of the Levant. These trees have been cherished for their symbolic and their healing properties. To emphasize the environmental, medical, political, cultural, religious, and economical value of trees in our lives, Ibsar has researched historical accounts regarding trees of Lebanon that have made their mark on history…
Ibsar - Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures at the American University of Beirut has a mission to promote the conservation & sustainable utilization of biodiversity in arid & Mediterranean regions, by providing an open academic platform for innovative research & development.
Illustrations by Fadia Nassereddine
Research by Nayla Abu-Izzeddin BA- Archaeology
Layout by Lorette Shebaya (lorette@shebaya.com)
Designed by Samar Toutunji (samartoutunji@yahoo.com )
Copywriting by Hania Jurdak (www.writecure.com)
© All rights reserved. IBSAR, AUB
Abies cilicica (Ant.&Ky.) Carriere
Cilician Fir - شوح
The wood of the ‘Shuh’شوح was a source of medicine for the ancient Egyptians who used it to treat “swelling”. The recipe appears in historical records as follows: “‘Shuh’ wood, chopped in fermented plant juice with the broken bottom of a clean pot can be used as bandage to treat swelling”.
Arbutus andrachne L.
Strawberry Tree - قطلب
It is under the branches of an Atlab قطلب tree that in ancient Greece, Hermes, the messenger of gods and the god of trade, was nursed.
Cedrus Libani Rich
Lebanese Cedar - أرز لبنان
At the end of the 20th Egyptian dynasty, Wenamon, an envoy from Egypt, was sent to Lebanon to get ‘Arz’أرز wood for the construction of a sacred vessel for Amon Re, the king of the gods and the god of the sun. Refusing to give the wood as a tribute to Egypt’s ruler, King Zakarbaal of Byblos asked Wenamon: “On what business have you come here?” Wenamon replied: “I have come after the timber (‘Arz’ wood). Your father gave it, your grandfather gave it, and you shall also give it”.
Ceratonia siliqua L.
Carob - خرنوب
The ‘Kharrub’ خرنوب gave its name to the carat, a unit of measure still used to this day to weigh gemstones. Historically, traders recognized the unusual constant weight of its seeds and used them as a basis and reference to weigh precious stones.
Cercis siliquastrum L.
Judas Tree - زمزريق
The white flowers of the ‘Zamzaric’ زمزريق tree turned red with blood or shame after Judas hanged himself from the tree.
Crataegus monogyna Jacq.
Hawthorn - زعرور
Ancient Greeks and Romans associated the ‘Zaarour’ زعرور with hope, marriage, and fertility. Bridesmaids wore its fragrant flowers, brides carried a bough made of its branches, and leaves were placed in cradles to protect babies from evil spirits.
Juniperus excelsa (M.bieb.)
Greek juniper - لزّاب
In 2500 BC, Egyptians imported berries of the ‘Lazzab’لزّاب tree from northern Palestine. They used them to prepare medicines that treated many diseases including ‘urinary problems’, ‘women’s discomfort’, and ‘chest illness’.
Laurus nobilis L.
Laurel - غار
‘Ghaar’غار was Apollo’s special tree as he was worshipped as Apollo Daphnephoros, the ‘Ghaar-Carrier’. The purifying effects of ‘Ghaar’ come from its aromatic leaves. The tree was commonly used in temples as “an orphan swept the temple entrance every morning with branches of ‘Ghaar’ and hanged up garlands made from ‘Ghaar’”.
Myrtus communis L.
Myrtle - ريحان
When ancient Greek sailors, battered by a terrible storm, prayed to Aphrodite to save them, fresh ‘Rehaan’ sprouted around her statue, permeating the air with its sweet scent and soothing the seasick men as the skies cleared. When the crew arrived safely to the Egyptian port of Naukratis, the captain (Herostratos) distributed crowns of the miraculous ‘Rehaan’ريحان to Aphrodite’s worshippers.
Olea europea L.
Olive tree - شجرة الزيتون
When Noah saw a dove carrying a branch of ‘Zaytoun’ شجرة الزيتون, he knew the Great Flood was over. The dove brought the branch to announce peace and the end of god’s wrath. To this day, branches of the ‘Zaytoun’ tree symbolize peace. They appear in the United Nations’ logo.
Quercus coccifera L.
Kermes Oak - سنديان
The ‘Sindyaneh’ سنديان is a tree often mentioned in Greek mythology. Odysseus received advice from Zeus through a ‘Sindyaneh’, the sacred tree spoke with a human voice, and doves perched on its branches sent messages from gods to humans.
Styrax officinalis L.
Storax - لبّان
The ‘Lebban’ لبّان was famous for its resin which was used as incense and medicine by ancient civilizations, Romans, Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Ionians. Today this resin has lost its value and is used only as incense in Roman Catholic churches.