ASTENE presents an online lecture by Paul Starkey.
From the Epic of Gilgamesh to the modern Lebanese flag, the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) has served as an icon recognisable far beyond the Middle East. Described in the 19th century by prominent Western travellers such as JL Burckhardt, and painted by, among others, Edward Lear, the cedars make a frequent appearance in the literature of so-called ‘Orientalist’ travellers, and despite their precarious status, remain a popular tourist attraction today. This lecture offers a brief historical review of the Cedars from a literary and artistic perspective and suggests some reasons for their enduring appeal and destination for travellers. The tree makes frequent appearances in Cornucopia’s botanical articles (see below)/
Paul Starkey is Emeritus Professor at Durham University and is currently Chair of ASTENE.
Instructions for joining the event via Zoom will be emailed to those that have registered approximately 48 hours before the event. If you do not already have access to Zoom, you can download the app for your phone/tablet/computer here: https://zoom.us/support/download
Issue 66, December 2023
Turkey’s Centenary Issue
