Labdanum has fascinated people for many centuries. It is said to reach deep into our subconscious and bring back memories, pictures, feelings and moods. Labdanum originates from the rockrose bush, which emits a resinous dark brown mass from its leaves and twigs. To this day it is still gathered by driving goats into the thick forests overgrown with labdanum bushes. The goats eat their fill from the branches and the sticky resin gets stuck on their beards. When they return, their owners carefully comb the resin our of their beards. Also used is a rakelike instrument with long strips of leather attached to it, which they drag across the bushes to collect the resin. Labdanum strengthens the body and provides warmth and sensuality. It is very grounding. The fragrance of Labdanum is very complex. This waxy resin produces a balsamlike, woody, earthy, marshy, smoky, ambergrislike, leathery, flowery, honeylike, mintlike fragrance with hints of plum or oakmoss after a rain. The Japanese use Labdanum in their Neriko mixtures, which are used during tea ceremony. Egyptians used it in their Kyphi mixtures and the Hebrews burned it in their temples. Today the perfume industry uses labdanum to add a note of moss and leather to its products. Labdanum is an excellent medium for making fragrant incense pellets.
http://www.lilitu.com.au/incense_r.htm
Ladanum, gum gathered from the rock rose.
Cistus gum
Akkadian: ladunu.
Assyrian: Ladanu
Greek: Ledanum
Latin: Ladanum Labdanum
Bible
Balm of Gilead
Myrrh Old Testament
Rose of Sharon
Hebrew: Lot
Englisch: Ladanum
German: Labdanum, Ladenharz, Ladan, Gummi or Resina Labdanum
French: Ladanum
Spanish: Ládano
Turkish: Ladaen
Arabic: Ladhan
Minoan civilization(3000-1450 BC)
Labdanum was acquaintance and it is exported in ancient Egypt.
Two Aromatic Herbs of Ancient Crete P. Faure
From the Minoan era, in the middle of the second millennium BC. and still today, Crete has been famous for the variety and wealth of its flora and its aromatic herbs, in particular. The most celebrated among them, known especially for their healing properties, are the ladanos, or labdanum, of the Cistus Creticus Incanus genus, called po-ni-ki-jo by the Mycenaens and the dictamos, a marjoram known in Botany as Origanum Dictamnus. This plant, being an attribute of the goddesses Dictyna and Artemis Vritomartys and of god Eros, was also called "theangelis (= gods' messager) after the role Eros usually has played among the other deities.
http://www.lilitu.com.au/incense_r.htm
Ladanum, gum gathered from the rock rose.
Cistus gum
Akkadian: ladunu.
Assyrian: Ladanu
Greek: Ledanum
Latin: Ladanum Labdanum
Bible
Balm of Gilead
Myrrh Old Testament
Rose of Sharon
Hebrew: Lot
Englisch: Ladanum
German: Labdanum, Ladenharz, Ladan, Gummi or Resina Labdanum
French: Ladanum
Spanish: Ládano
Turkish: Ladaen
Arabic: Ladhan
Minoan civilization(3000-1450 BC)
Labdanum was acquaintance and it is exported in ancient Egypt.
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| KNOSSOS - THE BLUE BIRD The blue bird. Above left it is the flower Cistus Creticus |
Two Aromatic Herbs of Ancient Crete P. Faure
From the Minoan era, in the middle of the second millennium BC. and still today, Crete has been famous for the variety and wealth of its flora and its aromatic herbs, in particular. The most celebrated among them, known especially for their healing properties, are the ladanos, or labdanum, of the Cistus Creticus Incanus genus, called po-ni-ki-jo by the Mycenaens and the dictamos, a marjoram known in Botany as Origanum Dictamnus. This plant, being an attribute of the goddesses Dictyna and Artemis Vritomartys and of god Eros, was also called "theangelis (= gods' messager) after the role Eros usually has played among the other deities.
