CEDARS OF LEBANON Biological and Historical Properties RATSIMANOHATRA Fenitra 1
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
4
SPECIFIES
Cones of Cedars Crown is coning The crown becomes tabular with age
Leaves are needles, around 3cm long
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
6
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 treeIt is said that the cross of Jesus was made of Cedar
7
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
8
PROPERTIES
HardnessExquisite fragrance Resistance to insectHigh resistance to humidity and temperature
That’s why used by the Phoenicians, Egyptians etc…
9
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