Have pomegranate, will travel
By Chelsie Vandaveer
June 4, 2002
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Killer Picks: Dwarf Pomegranate Fruit Trees—>Click here.
Phoenicia (Canaan) was a land of cities, a strip of coast between the mountains of Lebanon and the Mediterranean. It was a crossroads where overland trade and sea routes met. By the Fifteenth Century BCE, Phoenicia was an empire of business
and trade.
Arabian caravans brought cedar, linen, onyx, pearls, ebony, and spices from the east. Frankincense and myrrh came from Arabia Felix and Ethiopia. From the north came horses, copper, and slaves. From Egypt and Afghanistan came grains; from the African interior: ivory, gold, and exotic animals.
Arabian caravans carried not only trade goods, but necessary supplies, water, and food for the travelers. Somewhere along the route, traders from India probably introduced the pomegranate (Punica granatum Linnaeus) to the Arabs. The fruit was not the most valuable item on the routes,
but possibly the most useful.
The pomegranate's leathery-skin provided a long storage life. Containing up to 85 percent water, the fruit supplied liquid and minerals—calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium—lost to perspiration. Ancient traders thought this refreshment the 'fruit of Paradise'. The trees were tolerant of drought, heat, and neglect. Wherever Arabian caravansaries or Phoenician sea colonies were built, pomegranates were planted to supply travelers.
Plant of the Week 05/27/2002
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Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
The pomegranate (Punica granatum Linnaeus) is considered the oldest continuously cultivated fruit tree. The tree is thought native to the Middle East or southern Asia; the only other species, P. protopunica is found on the island of Soqotra off the southern coast of Yemen. The Phoenicians and Arabic traders introduced pomegranates throughout much of the ancient world.
Plant of the Week 05/27/2002
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A Bequest Unearthed, Phoenicia, is a wonderful website about this ancient civilization. To learn more about the Phoenicians and the trade routes of the ancient world, click on the link:
http://www.phoenicia.org/
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Plant of the Week - May 27, 2002
Who was Tantalus? What's in a Name? - July 30, 2004
Who was Ceres? What's in a Name? - April 16, 2004
What is henna? Herbal Folklore - October 6, 2003
Frankincense and the Lost City of Ubar Herbal Folklore - December 24, 2001
What is the onion of Ashkelon? What's in a Name? - May 21, 2004
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