2. You’ve already seen this tree !! But Where ?!
Symbol of Lebanon
Origins in Middle Orient 2
3. « 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. SPECIFIES
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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RELIGIOUS LEGENDS
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 »
In the bible : known as purifier tree
It is said that the cross of Jesus was made of Cedar
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RELIGIOUS LEGENDS
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
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USE
Medicinal : wood and resin as antiseptic, diuretic, antifungal, cones for antiulcer
Perfumery : wood and leaves incense and essential oil
Wood : heating, carpentry, shipbuilding…
10. 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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