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CEDARS OF LEBANONBiological and Historical Properties

RATSIMANOHATRA Fenitra

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You’ve already seen this tree !! But Where ?!

Symbol of Lebanon Origins in Middle Orient

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« 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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SPECIFICITIES

Cones of Cedars Crown is coning The crown becomes tabular with age

Leaves are needles, around 3cm long

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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 LEGENDSThe cedar of lebanon appears in the writtings of the three big religions

In the bible : known as purifier treeIt 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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PROPERTIES

HardnessExquisite fragrance Resistance to insectHigh resistance to humidity and temperature

That’s why used by the Phoenicians, Egyptians etc…

USEMedicinal : wood and resin as antiseptic, diuretic, antifungal Perfumery : wood and leaves incense and essential oil Wood : heating, carpentry, shipbuilding…

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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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THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION !!

QUESTIONS ?