The Queen of Sheba's gift : a history of the true balsam of Matarea

Tells the history of the precious balsam of Matarea: a substance traded for its weight in gold* Uses archaeological and textual sources to trace the cultivation of balsam trees from the 4th century BCE to the 17th century CE* Surveys the evidence for the symbolic value and practical applications of balsam in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe* Establishes the many uses of balsam in pre-modern medicine, religious ritual and royal ceremonies* Correlates modern botanical studies with historical sources in the identification of the trees that once grew in the plantation of Matarea in Egypt* Explores the complex socio-cultural factors that contributed to the sense of value accorded to rare commodities* Richly illustrated with over 50 line drawings, engravings, watercolours and photographs, drawn from sources ranging across time from medieval manuscripts to 20th-century photographs, depicting balsam trees, balsam resin receptacles, the compound of Matarea, maps and moreUsing written sources, visual data and archaeological material, Marcus Milwright reconstructs the fascinating cultural history of the balsam tree from Jericho and En-Gedi to Egypt, and from ancient times to the 17th century. Miwright addresses the symbolic associations of balsam and the site of Matarea (where the last balsam tree died in 1615), the distribution of products from the tree through trade and diplomacy, and the applications of these products in medicine, ritual and the domestic environment. He also establishes links with resin-producing trees from the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. The balsam of Matarea was a substance famous as a panacea among physicians in the Middle East and Europe during the Antique and Medieval periods. It was used in many aspects of medieval life and is associated with figures such as the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra. The story of this substance takes the reader into the political life of the medieval Mediterranean and Middle East, and back into the ancient history of Palestine. Using written sources, visual data and archaeological material, Marcus Milwright reconstructs the fascinating cultural history of the balsam tree: from Jericho and En-Gedi to Egypt, and from ancient times to the 17th century. Miwright addresses the symbolic associations of balsam and the site of Matarea (where the last balsam tree died in 1615), the distribution of products from the tree through trade and diplomacy, and the applications balsam products in medicine, ritual and the domestic environment. Cover 1 The Queen of Sheba’s Gift 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Figures 7 Permissions 11 Acknowledgements 12 Notes for the Reader 14 Timeline 15 Introduction 18 1 Travellers’ Tales: Experiencing Matarea 39 2 Resins in the Ancient World 70 3 Balsam in Egypt 104 4 The Balsam Tree and Balsam ‘Oil’ 135 5 Diplomacy and International Trade 170 6 Balsam in Medicine: From Greek to Arabic 199 7 Balsam in Medieval and Early Modern Medicine 227 8 Religious and Royal Dimensions to Balsam 258 9 Conclusion 290 Glossary 302 Bibliography 305 Index 343