Fresh pine-like scent in the air. Slight fog shrouds the place in mystery. Giant trees add grace and reverence. As soon as I stepped into the Cedar forest, my whole system relaxed; mind, body and spirit. I had to stop for a few minutes, breathe deeply and take in the beauty and serenity of it all.
They call it “Cedars of God” (أرز الرب) and I can see why. The place felt sacred, divine and wholesome.
This magical tree, the Lebanese Cedar, is native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the symbol of Lebanon. It is featured on their flag.
Cedars are from the pine family, yet their fruit is not edible. Cedar wood is one of the best and is highly sought after for making furniture.
What’s most interesting is the Cedar oil! Ancient Egyptians used it in mummifying the dead. Since there are no Cedar trees in Egypt, it was all imported from Lebanon. In return Phoenicians imported marble and granite from Egypt to build giant columns in their temples. With the active trade between the two countries, hieroglyphics were also exported to Lebanon, modified and improved upon which eventually gave birth to the first alphabet known in human history.
Centuries of trade, civilizations rise and fall, cultures blend and evolve in this amazing land of plenty. One can easily see the influences of Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans and Arabs in the same ruins. The stones tell tales and hold history in every groove.
Despite the financial crises and the economic hardships people are facing these days in Lebanon, I found it to be one of the richest countries. The kind of richness that money can’t measure.
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Unconditional Love 