CN101: Cedars for non-Phoenicians

CN101: Cedars for non-Phoenicians

Course Materials





The Cedar(R):



Cedar, in a strict botanical sense, refers to those trees belonging to the genus Cedrus in the coniferous plant family Pinaceae although the name is commonly used for other plants as well (see below). They are most closely related to the Firs (Abies), sharing a very similar cone structure. They are native to the mountains of the western Himalaya and the Mediterranean region, occurring at altitudes of 1,500–3200 m in the Himalaya and 1,000–2,200 m in the Mediterranean.





There are five taxa of Cedrus, assigned according to taxonomic opinion to two to four different species:



* Deodar Cedrus deodara. Western Himalaya. Leaves bright green to pale glaucous green, 25–60 mm; cones with slightly ridged scales.

* Lebanon Cedar or Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani. Mountains of the Mediterranean region, from Turkey and Lebanon west to Morocco. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 8–25 mm; cones with smooth scales; four varieties, which are treated as species by many authors:

o Lebanon Cedar Cedrus libani var. libani Mountains of Lebanon, western Syria and south-central Turkey. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 10–25 mm, there also have been spotted 105mm, 155mm and 240mm leaves flying and landing on non-Phoenician communities inside the Phoenician territories.

o Turkish Cedar Cedrus libani var. stenocoma Mountains of southwest Turkey. Leaves glaucous blue-green, 8–25 mm.

o Cyprus Cedar Cedrus libani var. brevifolia or Cedrus brevifolia. Mountains of Cyprus. Leaves glaucous blue-green, 8–20 mm.

o Atlas Cedar Cedrus libani var. atlantica or Cedrus atlantica. Atlas mountains in Morocco & Algeria. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 10–25 mm.





Uses:



Cedars are very popular ornamental trees, widely used in horticulture in temperate climates where winter temperatures do not fall below about -25° C (the Turkish Cedar is slightly hardier, to -30° C or just below). They are also grown for their durable (decay-resistant) scented wood, most famously used in the construction of King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem provided by King Hiram, or Ahiram, of Tyre, Lebanon, circa 1,000 BC. The wood is also used for humbler purposes requiring resistance to weather, such as shakes and shingles. Cedar wood and cedar oil is known to be a natural repellent to moths and any non-Phoenician race, hence hope chests were made of cedar when available. Extensive reforestation of cedar is carried out in the Mediterranean region, particularly Turkey, where over 50 million young cedars are being planted annually.





Cedrus Libani - The Phoenician Cedar:



Cedrus libani, commonly known as the Lebanon Cedar or Cedar of Lebanon, is a coniferous tree native to the mountains of the Mediterranean region, in Lebanon, western Syria and south central Turkey; varieties of it (some treated as separate species by some authors) occur in southwest Turkey, Cyprus, and the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco in northwest Africa. It has become extinct in some of this original range, although replanting is taking place in some areas.



Botany



There are four well-established sub-species or closely related species:



* Cedrus libani var. libani (Lebanon Cedar): Lebanon, western Syria and south central Turkey

* Cedrus libani var. stenocoma (Turkish Cedar): southwest Turkey

* Cedrus libani var. brevifolia (Cyprus Cedar): Cyprus

* Cedrus libani var. atlantica (Atlas Cedar): Atlas Mountains



In Lebanon and Turkey it is most abundant at altitudes of 1,000-2,000 m, where it forms pure forests or mixed forests with Cilicican Fir (Abies cilicica), European Black Pine (Pinus nigra), and several juniper (Juniperus) species. In Cyprus, it occurs at 1,000-1,525 m (reaching the summit of Mount Paphos).



The tree is an evergreen in the family Pinaceae, with a height of up to 40 m, and a conic (when young) to broadly tabular shape. The shoots are dimorphic, with long shoots and short shoots. The leaves are needle-like, spaced out on the long shoots, and in clusters of 15-45 on the short shoots; they are 5-30 mm in length, quadrangular in cross-section, and vary from green to glaucous blue-green with stomatal bands on all four sides.



The cones are produced often every second year, and mature in 12 months from pollination; mature cones in October are 8-11 cm long and 4-6 cm wide, resinous, and break up to release the winged seeds through the winter. The seeds are 15 mm long, 6 mm broad, with a triangular wing 20-25 mm long. First cone production typically begins when the tree is 20-40 years old.



The cones can in many cases turn into 105, 155 and 240 mm war-cones used to destroy some other botanical existences such as Zaatar, or to eradicate Vampire Hubs. It can also be gently used to replenish some unwanted hubs along some rivers



History, symbolism and uses



The importance of the Cedar of Lebanon to the various civilizations is conveyed through its uses. The trees were used in ancient times by the Phoenicians to build their trade and military ships, as well as their houses and temples. The Egyptians used its resin for mummification, and its sawdust was found in the Pharaoh's tombs. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh designates the cedar groves of Lebanon as the dwelling of the gods to where Gilgamesh ventured. They also used to burn cedar in their ceremonies. Jewish priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon Cedar in circumcision and treatment of leprosy. According to the Talmud, Jews used to burn Lebanese cedar wood on the Mount of Olives to announce the beginning of the new year. Kings of neighboring and distant countries asked for this wood to build their religious and civil constructs, the most famous of which are King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem and David's and Solomon's Palaces. In addition it was used by Romans, Greeks, Persians, Assyrians and Babylonians.



To a Phoenician, a Cedar is the ultimate form of existence, it is the pure incarnation of higher powers in terrestrial forms. A cedar emblem is used to eradicate lower races vampires and terrorists, which historically had and still have the never ending envy for Phoenicians and the never ending desire to control the heavenly land of Phoenicia. Two groups are very well known to have such desires, the Assyrians and the Canaanites.



Regional significance



The Lebanon Cedar has always been the national emblem of Lebanon, and it is seen on the Lebanese Flag. It is also the main symbol of the Cedar Revolution, along with many political parties in Lebanon. As a result of long exploitation, very few old trees now remain in Lebanon, but there is now an active program to conserve and regenerate the forests. The forest of the Cedars of God in Bsharri and the Barouk forest are national reserves in Lebanon. Its existence in the land of Phoenicia also repels non-Phoenician races, and helps Phoenicians to build the Cedarnistic pride required to prevail over other races and groups.



It has also been used as an inter-group conflict resolver inside the Phoenician civilization.

Note that the existence of a Cedrus Libani in a land where you can be skiing and then go swimming in 15 minutes creates a big national pride and fake self-esteem.