THE CEDARS, LEBANON

The Lebanon Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed on the Lebanese flag. It is also the logo of Middle East Airlines (MEA), which is Lebanon's national carrier. Beyond that, it is also the main symbol of Lebanon's "Cedar Revolution", along with many Lebanese political parties and movements, the Lebanses Forces, the National Liberal Party, and the Future Movement.

The Cedar of Lebanon was important to various ancient civilizations. The trees were used by the Phonecians for building commercial and military ships, as well as houses, palaces, and temples.

The ancient Egyptians used its resin in mummification, and its sawdust has been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs.

Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon Cedar in circumcision and the treatment of leprosy.

The Hebrew prophet Isaiah used the Lebanon Cedar as a metaphor for the pride of the world.

According to the Talmud, Jews once burned Lebanese cedar wood on the Mount of Olives to celebrate the new year. Foreign rulers from both near and far would order the wood for religious and civil constructs, the most famous of which are King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem and David's and Solomon's Palaces.

Because of its significance the word Cedar is mentioned 76 times in the Bible, and played a pivotal role in the cementing of the Phoenician-Hebrew relationship.