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Cedar Tree

Imagine a living being that has witnessed the rise wood. As a result, cedar timber was as valuable in
and fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, antiquity as oil is today. Countries with cedar forests
the Seljuk Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. It has had the potential to dominate the Mediterranean. Ro-
even seen the birth of the Republic of Türkiye and its man general Marcus Antonius gifted the ancient Olba
development to this day. In this photograph, you see a Region, exceptionally rich in cedar forests, to his lover
2000-year-old cedar tree alongside a 40-year-old hu- Cleopatra to strengthen the Egyptian navy. Due to the
man, a mere blip in the tree's millennia-long existence. immense value of cedarwood, it became the first living
species for which a nature protection law was enacted
One can only imagine the countless winters and worldwide.
summers this cedar tree has witnessed. The tales of
love, war, and intrigue it has silently observed are Cedar trees are a species capable of thriving at eleva-
beyond comprehension. It is for this reason that people tions above 1,000 meters, forming vast cedar forests
throughout history have held such deep respect for that blanket mountain peaks. How did ancient civiliza-
these ancient trees, often perceiving them as immortal tions transport these towering trees from high moun-
beings. Across the ages, they have imbued these vener- tain summits to the coastline under the conditions of
able trees with profound meaning, weaving countless that era?
stories around their enduring presence.
During those times, rivers served as a primary mode
If we were to board a time machine and travel back of transportation. People would fell cedar trees and
to those periods, we would see numerous ships along cast them into rivers, allowing the current to carry the
the Mediterranean coast. Commerce in those days was logs downstream, where they would be collected at
primarily conducted by sea, with vessels navigating the shores. These logs would then be transported by
along the coastal routes. For instance, a ship depart- ships to shipyards, where they were transformed into
ing from Egypt would traverse the entire Middle East seafaring vessels.
and Mediterranean coast, making port calls at various
harbors. It would unload cargo at some ports and take The bond between humans and cedar trees extended
on new cargo at others, thus contributing to the vibrant far beyond mere utility. Cedar forests were revered as
maritime trade in the Mediterranean. Ships in those sacred spaces. In ancient times, people would gather
days were constructed from wood, with the most dura- beneath cedar trees for meaningful conversations, and
ble ones being crafted from cedarwood. This is because they planted these revered cedars as markers on their
cedar trees possess exceptional resistance to moisture gravesites. Cedar is also recognized as a tree with a
and have long, branchless trunks. high fragrance energy. Among the Hittites, cedar was
considered sacred, and incense made from cedarwood
The Uluburun Shipwreck, the world's oldest ship- was burned in their temples. The immense value of ce-
wreck, has remarkably remained intact at the bottom darwood led to conflicts between ancient superpowers,
of the sea off the coast of Kaş for approximately 3,300 with wars erupting over the control of cedar forests.
years. This vessel, too, was constructed from cedar-

NIRVANA MEDITERRANEAN EXCELLENCE

DNA DOĞANIN NİRVANASI ANTALYA 53