Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) was the backbone of Phoenician power. Here's why:
Cedar's straight grain, rot resistance, and strength made it ideal for hulls of merchant ships and warships. The Phoenician fleet—masters of Mediterranean trade—depended on it.
Temples, palaces, and the famed Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem used cedar beams and paneling. Its durability ensured structures lasted centuries.
Cedar groves were sacred to Baal (storm/fertility) and Astarte (love/fertility). Trees were planted near sanctuaries; the wood was used in rituals.
The cedar appeared on coins, seals, and royal insignia—symbolizing Phoenician maritime reach, wealth, and architectural achievement.
Without cedar, the Phoenicians could not have built the ships that knit the Mediterranean world together. The tree was, quite literally, the wood beneath their sails.