Frankincense and the Lost City of Ubar
By Chelsie Vandaveer
December 24, 2001
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The Gift of Kings, Kashmir Paisley Matelasse Cover—>Click here.
Hand-powered Emergency Radio, SkyScout Personal Planetarium—>Click here.
At the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula is a vast and lonely desert, Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter. This is the land of the lost city of Ubar. From 2800 BC to 300 AD, Ubar was a city said to rival paradise. Legends say it was built by King Shaddad, a grandson of Noah. Pliny the Elder in the first century AD described the area as being very fertile with unbroken tracts of forests and mist covered mountains. The city prospered for over 3000 years on the trade of frankincense.
Frankincense or olibanum is the resin of Boswellia sacra Flueck. In ancient times, frankincense was used medicinally, cosmetically, and spiritually. Frankincense was burned in Babylonian temples for the Festival of Bel. The Queen of Sheba presented Solomon with frankincense,
gold, and spices when she went to test him with "difficult questions". Frankincense is one of four ingredients in sacred Hebrew incense for the temples.
The Egyptians used it to embalm the dead and to treat skin ulcers and open wounds. It is said Egyptian women remained beautiful from their use of frankincense facial masks. It was felt to protect and rejuvenate the skin. Kohl, used to outline the eyes, was made of frankincense that has been charred. It was burned in the temples and to add fragrance to clothing.
The peak of frankincense use was during the Roman Empire. Nero is said to have burned a year's production of frankincense for the funeral of his wife, Poppaea. Pliny stated the finest frankincense is the white 'pearls' that ooze naturally from the bark and are collected at dawn. Caravans with as many as 3,000 camels left Ubar carrying frankincense to other countries.
Legends say the wealthy citizens of Ubar became arrogant, impious, and licentious. They were warned by a prophet and did not listen. A great wind blew for seven days and eight nights and the city of Ubar vanished under the sands.
Missouri Botanical Garden has posted a photograph taken by Mark Olson of Boswellia sacra. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.mobot.org/gradstudents/olson/boswellia.jpg 
Archaeologists believed they have discovered the location of the city of Ubar. To view a radar image courtesy of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, click on the link:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/radar/sircxsar/ubar.html
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
How was this Biblical plant used? Herbal Folklore - May 13, 2002
Why did Alexander take the island of bliss? Plants that Changed History - November 4, 2003
Have pomegranate, will travel Plants that Changed History - June 4, 2002
What is myrrh? Herbal Folklore - July 23, 2001
What is saffron? What's in a Name? - January 4, 2002
Why was a legendary bird named for a palm? What's in a Name? - December 26, 2003
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The Gift of Kings
National Geographic®
The gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus bear a special significance during this season. Many people have heard of frankincense and myrrh, but few have ever seen them or experienced their beautiful aroma. Fragrant resins harvested from trees indigenous to the coastal plains of southern Arabia, frankincense and myrrh were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for medicinal, religious, and cosmetics applications.
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Our exclusive dome-topped wood box with intricate inlay is made in Syria. Inside you'll find a velvet pouch filled with nuggets of white frankincense and reddish myrrh, plus information on their history, legend, and for use. Enjoy some on your evening fire, or use as incense.
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Wollemi Pine
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