History

A History of Merchant Routes.

In the south western corner of Saudi Arabia today  there lies a lush green belt known as The Asir, towering at a height of 2,910 meters. The earliest mention of this area is that of the Roman general Aelius Gallus, who arrived in the year 25B.C. Gallus’s intention being to conquer The Southern Arabian incense producing regions.

The Natives of these lands kept their independence until 1922 A.D. when they were conquered by King Abdul Aziz. This land now forms part of Saudi Arabia. The most important stop on this route being Najaran it was here that the caravan separated into the east and west. This must have been a breath taking sight to see the aroma of incense and attar in the air, these majestic ships of the desert heads held high as prima ballerinas sailing across the desert sands with there precious cargo of fine silks & gems, transported from China along the silk route across India to sail across the oceans picking up different delights along the trail. On reaching Arabia through the Jordan to Petra, a caravan city carved out of stone. Fragrant Palmyra with its caravanserai whose queen was taken to Rome in chains of gold. Syria, Lebanon is a country were I spent three amazing years. The Cedar tree reigns mightily upon her flag. Cedar wood and Jasmine  all have healing properties. From Phoenicia they traveled through the Levant to Greece and Rome herself. Each civilization had Gods and Goddesses to whom they give offerings.  Among those worshipped were Sham who is the sun god.The city of Damascus is called after him, the arabic translation is Sham. The Phoenician god Amon, his planetary counterpart being Mars.

 The Assyrian and Phoenician Gods were called Bal. There is a huge temple at a town called Balbek, in Lebanon where they gave freely. It did not finish when the Old ones fell from grace, the Christian church took up were the Pagan Gods left off with their incenses, frankincense and myrrh re-gained momentum when the so called Holy Crusaders wounds were packed with myrrh bringing about near miraculous cures, those who on their return took up the cloth [ probably out of guilt ] This gave oils another road into Britain. Those crusaders who entered the Ecclesiastical Apothecary without doubt brought oils and resins with them re-introducing frankincense called Olibanum its Latin name literally meaning oil of Lebanon, or so they say. Personally I can't see it as Lebanon is called Liban in Arabic and the literal translation of it is "cream / yogurt" Just as attar in Arabic, means "Gift of God" DON'T jump to conclusions as in Turkish attar means ----cat---- but then in ancient Egypt the cat was worshiped. Therefore, I am going to keep an open mind! These oils were "Mega Business". The chief incense trade was ruled by three ancient civilizations successively. The Minoeans who were superseded by the Sabaens [Shebans] in 950 BC.The Himyarites gradually absorbed the Sabaen nation as they were culturally inferior, it was an easy victory for the forefathers  of our friend Aelius Gallus and just across the border as well! In the first century B.C in what is today Yemen.