ppt on cedars of lebanon

1. CEDARS OF LEBANON
Biological and Historical Properties
RATSIMANOHATRA
Fenitra
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2. You’ve already seen this tree !! But Where ?!
Symbol of Lebanon
Origins in Middle Orient 2

3. « Les cèdres du Liban sont les reliques des siècles et de la nature, les monuments naturels
les plus célèbres de l'univers. Ils savent l'histoire de la terre, mieux que l'histoire elle-
même » Alphonse De Lamartine
« The Cedars of Lebanon are relics of nature and centuries, the most famous natural
monuments of univers. They know the earth’s history better than history itself » Alphonse
De Lamartine
Where do they grow ?
Conditions :
More than 1000m above sea level
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4. SPECIFICITIES
Cones of Cedars Crown is coning The crown becomes tabular
with age
Leaves are needles, around 3cm long
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5. HISTORY
Used by many ancient civilizations :
 The phoenicians built Ship  The ancient Egyptians used its resin for mummification
Purify and make the incorruptible soul of
the dead
 Defence against devil for the
mesopotamians
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6. RELIGIOUS LEGENDS
The cedar of lebanon appears in the writtings of the three big religions
In the bible : known as purifier tree
It is said that the cross of Jesus was made of Cedar
In the jewish religion : Priest were ordered by Moise to use cedar of lebanon after a period of
leprosy, during a ceremony of purification
They burnt the tree to celebrate the new year.
The priest Isaiah uses the tree as a metaphore of the proud of the world
In the Coran : according to Sidrat-al-Muntaha « This giant tree grows to the seventh
heaven under the throne of Allah; when a leaf falls, someone dies »
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7. PROPERTIES
Hardness
Exquisite fragrance
Resistance to insect
High resistance to humidity and temperature
That’s why used by the Phoenicians,
Egyptians etc…
USE
Medicinal : wood and resin as antiseptic, diuretic, antifungal
Perfumery : wood and leaves incense and essential oil
Wood : heating, carpentry, shipbuilding…
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8. NOWADAYS SITUATION
In Lebanon, only 12 forest of Cedar remaining (less than 800 ha)
Symbol for an entire country: « An evergreen cedar is an ageless people despite a cruel past. Although
oppressed, never conquered, cedar is its rallying. For the union, it will break all attacks » according to one of the
text of the proclamation of Great Lebanon
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9. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION !!
QUESTIONS ?
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