Tree of Life - Mythology

Ancient Egypt
Tree of Life Bahrain

Ancient Egypt

   

The Osiris Legend and the Tree of Life Ancient Egyptians and the Constellations: Part 6 * * * The Osiris Legend and the Tree of Life (the Axis Munde)          The earliest reference to the concept of the Tree of Life is to be found in the philosophy of the Ancient Egyptians. In the Osiris Legend, Osiris was induced by his wicked brother Set to lie down in a magnificent coffer under the pretext of a game at a banquet. Set and his seventy-two conspirators immediately closed the lid and threw the coffer into the Nile.           Osiris' wife Isis, who was also his sister, searched for and found the chest which had been borne down the Nile and across the sea to what was later identified as the Phoenician coast, where it was deposited at the foot of a tamarisk tree. As the tree grew it enclosed Osiris and the chest within its trunk ... which was later cut down by the king of Byblos and used as a pillar in his palace. The fragrance of the pillar became renowned far and wide, and when Isis heard about it she immediately understood its significance. Isis returned the pillar, and the body it contained, to Egypt.          In "Ancient Egyptians and the Constellations: Part 2" the Lost Secret of the process of the Creation of the Universe was disclosed … the Celestial Sphinx Hu / Osiris, symbolizing the Masculine Creation Principle, breathed Life into the constellations.           The loss of this Secret inspired another explanation of the Creation of the Universe. There was a primordial ocean called Nun. It wasn't flat; rather it was in the shape of a cosmic egg … and from this cosmic egg was born the primeval hill called Nu.          Both the egg and the primeval hill are recorded on pictures of Isis in the tombs of the Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs; indicating that Isis was the personification of the Feminine Creation Principle. She was the Holy Mother who was represented with her child Horus by the Constellation of Virgo. Isis was considered Virgin as she was seeded after the death and resurrection of Osiris … minus the phallus.
Isis, the Feminine Creation Principle	Constellation of Virgo represented Isis, the Holy Mother	Constellation of Virgo flipped 180 degrees	Isis, the Holy Mother
In ancient Egyptian texts it is written of the Tree of Life, "I am the plant which comes from Nu." The Tree of Life grew out of the Sacred Mound, it's branches reaching out and supporting the star and planet studded sky, while it's roots reached down into the watery abyss of the Netherworld. The trunk of the Tree of Life represented the World Pillar or Axis Munde (literally "Axis of the Mound") around which the heavens appeared to revolve. The World Pillar was the centre of the universe.          The Ancient Egyptian symbol for "plant" meaning "Tree of Life" was three sacred lotus lilies. They have tree stems curving to the left as though blown into Life by the breath of Hu, the Celestial Sphinx. On top of each stem is the Lotus flower which was used in Ancient Egypt to represent Life and Resurrection. It is from this hieroglyph that the "fleur de lis" which is frequently found in Ancient Egyptian Art traces its origin. The "fleur de lis" represents the Tree of Life. The glyph which denotes the sacred knowledge associated with Hu is also formed by the three stems of the three sacred lotus lilies. The Osiris Crown can be similarly considered in these terms. Following the role model of Osiris, in 1346AD Edward the Black Prince won three feathers at Crecy which he adopted as his emblem. If the three feathers are gathered at the stems a fleur de lis is created.

The Egyptian hieroglyph for "plant" meaning "Tree of Life" was three sacred lotus lilies … "unb".	The fleur de lis traces its origins back to the sacred lotus symbol for "plant" meaning "Tree of Life".	The glyph which denotes the sacred knowledge of Hu is also derived from the sacred lotus.
The Egyptian hieroglyph for "plant" meaning "Tree of Life" was three sacred lotus lilies … "unb".	The Osiris Crown can traceits origins back to the sacred lotus symbol for "plant".	Edward the Black Prince emulated Osiris in adopting three ostrich feathers for his emblem.
Osiris, in his earliest Axis Munde form of a tamarisk tree trunk, was called Djed. His later mummy wrappings were symbolic of his having been encased inside a tree trunk. His mummy was therefore an Axis Munde … as indeed were all future mummies. Over time the tree trunk was replaced by the imagery of a pillar which became known as the Djed Pillar, the Pillar of Stability.          When Osiris was enclosed in the trunk of a tamarisk tree, which was later cut down and used as a pillar in the palace of the King of Byblos, he metaphorically became as one with the Tree of Life. Osiris became the Axis Munde around which the heavens appear to revolve; he became the World Pillar, the link between the terrestrial and celestial worlds. He held the heavens in his outstretched arms, and he soaked up the word of God from the waters of the Netherworld. In Ancient Egypt the Netherworld was called the "Netterworld" meaning the "World of the gods". The gods had their home among the stars.

Osiris asGod of the Dead	Osiris as the Djed Pillar … the Pillar of Stability.	Ptah as the Djed Pillar
Osiris' mummy wrappings were symbolic of his having been encased in a tree trunk. Over time a tree became a pillar and the mummy came to represent the Axis Munde … also known as the "Tree of Life" and the "Pillar of Heaven".		When the city of Memphis was founded Ptah usurped the position of Osiris. Also in Mummy wrappings, Ptah represents the Axis Munde.
When the city of Memphis "The White Wall" was founded, the god Ptah replaced the mummified Osiris as the Djed Pillar. According to the Shabaka Stone, the founders of Memphis subordinated and assimilated all aspects of the Osiris Cosmogony in favour of Ptah and the new Memphite Cosmogony. Why the sudden shift? Was it a determined effort to conceal the Secret of Precession known to a Pre-Dynastic Ancient Egypt? Footnote … subtle references to Freemasonry are intentional. Copyright Audrey Fletcher 1999 All rights reserved Adelaide, South Australia ------------ Tree of Life, Bahrain From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; Tree of Life The Tree of Life (Shajarat-al-Hayat) in Bahrain is approximately 400 year-old, 9.75 m (32 ft) high Prosopis cineraria[1] tree located 2 km (1.2 mi) from Jebel Dukhan. The tree stands on top of a 7.6 m (25 ft) high sandy tell that formed around a 500-year-old fortress. The tree is a local tourist attraction, as it is the only major tree growing in the area. The tree is visited by approximately 50,000 tourists every year and the tree often is damaged by graffiti carvings. It is also believed to be the site for cults practising ancient rites. Since October 2010, archaeologists have unearthed pottery and other artefacts in the vicinity of the tree, some of which may date back to the Dilmun civilisation.[citation needed] Trees and shrubs of Prosopis genus are extremely well adapted to arid environments with one of the deepest known root systems. The tree is mentioned in the movie L.A. Story. May be the mystery status of the Tree of Life in Bahrain is somewhat exagerated - but this vivid, majestic mesquite tree looks magnificent in the harsh desert. The desert tree   Most members of Prosopis genus are native to America and there have a common name - mesquites. Prosopis cineraria though is native to Asia. These are sturdy, interesting shrubs and trees which are extremely well adapted to dry deserts. Mesquite trees can provide fine food (beans, floor), fragrant and sturdy wood and medicals and above all - they can bring life to desert. The roots of these thorny trees and shrubs host colonies of bacteria that can fix nitrogen. In a such way this plant helps to enrich the desert soil. Prosopis trees have developed many interesting qualities to deal with dry climate and one is - extremely deep root system. Roots of one tree in this genus - Mexican Prosopis juliflora - might go up to 53 m deep! Messenger from the Garden of Eden? Local stories tell that Tree of Life was planted here in 1583 - 429 years ago. Tree miraculously has survived up to this day, it looks healthy and has fresh, green leaves. It grows on a small sand hill and is visible from far away. The tree certainly is lonely - without any other trees in sight, with smaller plants some distance from it. The trunk of mesquite is protected with an intricate fence from wrought iron - unfortunately many people have left graffiti on its trunk. Unfortunately even some tour guides have proposes to make these writings to tourists. This is popular tourist destination with some 50 000 visitors coming here every year. Legends and facts Many locals have attributed mysterious qualities to the Tree of Life. Many consider that it marks the true location of the Garden of Eden and often it is claimed that this is a mystery - where the tree gets water. Closer look at maps shows the situation in a different light. Tree of Life is not entirely lonely. One smaller tree grows some 850 m to the north from the Tree of Life. Nearby are some more trees. When browsing through the map of Bahrain one can find some more lonely trees. Next - the source of water also is not such a big mystery. The ground, where the tree grows, is just some 9 - 12 m above the sea level and groundwater level in this location is higher than the sea level. Not too far from the tree are seen ponds with water. Remember - roots of these trees might go even 53 m deep! The air here often is humid - and mesquite is well adapted to gain the moisture from the air as well. The teachings of the old mesquite This does not decrease the value of the Tree of Life. This majestic, old mesquite tree tells a valuable story about a possibility of a better life in Bahrain. First we can look into the past. The ancient Dilmun differed from the present day Bahrain. Back in those times Bahrain was a land rich with water, fields and farms, island had many small streams emanating from powerful springs. Dilmun was a significant exporter of agricultural goods. Throughout the island in the places where today is lifeless desert, can be found traces of ancient agriculture. Today Bahrain is not green anymore. This can be attributed to the rising sea level, which step by step has eliminated freshwater from the island. But humans have some fault at this as well - without intense agriculture, grazing and - urbanization - Bahrain would be a different island. Unfortunately today the scarce groundwater resources in the country are increasingly polluted, the fragile desert ecosystem is literally viped away by the modern development. Tree of Life though shows a way out of dead way. It tells - there are plants, which can grow here. If there would be many more such trees, groundwater level would rise step by step and the water would be cleaner. Instead of the lifeless ground there would form a soil. Today the landscape around the tree is not beautiful - there are fences, oil fields and pipes, military installations. Tree of Life stands amidst all of this as a lonely beakon of hope. Map See Tree of Life on the map of Bahrain! Coordinates: 25.9941 N 50.5830 E No: 321        (list of all attractions) Category: Trees Values: Biology, Visual Rank: 8 Address: Asia, Bahrain, Southern Governorate, 10 km from Askar, some 3.5 km west from Jaww, in the desert Species: Prosopis cineraria Height: 9.75 m Crown diameter: 25 - 27 m Name in Arabian: شجرة الحياة (Shajarat-al-Hayat) deaf dude, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 Graffiti on the bark of Tree Of Life. Rick's Images, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 Amphitheatre plan for Tree of Life Manama, April 7, 2013 Extensive work featuring a spectacular amphitheatre overlooking the 400-year-old Tree of Life, one of Bahrain's most famous landmarks, is being planned, a report said. The $786,800 project will include a viewing area, kiosks and tourist attractions, according to the report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News. The scheme, which is being sponsored by Bapco, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, while its first phase will be finished this month. "Work is on schedule and we are expected to finish the first phase, which consists of setting up the basic infrastructure later this month," said a representative of contractors Bukhowa Contracting. Contracts have still not been awarded for the project's second phase which will consist of finalising the beautification process. The project would be set up in a strategic location, which would also give a clear view of an excavation site near the tree. In October 2010, archaeologists unearthed ancient ruins of a 500-year-old fort at the site of the Tree of Life. Excavations turned up artefacts and pottery and the tree is located at the centre of the fortification, but the ruins have since been covered with sand. The development scheme was launched in October last year by the Culture Ministry, in association with the Southern Governorate and Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife. It followed directives by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa who instructed authorities to turn the place into a tourism attraction and promote Bahrain's cultural, heritage and tourism. Another official supervising the project said the entire area would have a fresh look after the project is completed. "There are plans to make this area truly attractive for tourists to come all year round," he said. "The Culture Ministry is taking pains to bring the area to life." He said another project to preserve the archaeological history in the area is also underway. "That will also be completed in the months to come," he said. Meanwhile, a Bapco representative said the company was committed to Bahrain's development, particularly preserving its rich history and culture. "The Bapco sponsorship is a step in that direction," he said. The tree stands in the middle of the desert and its source of water has been a mystery for experts. A soil and tree ring analysis conducted more than 20 years ago by historian Dr Ali Akbar Bushiri concluded that the Tree of Life was an Acacia planted in 1582 AD. It was fenced off in 2007 after being targeted by vandals. The tree still bears marks of graffiti and small holes at the base of its trunk, as well as cracks in some of its branches. Area councillor Bader Al Dossary earlier said the tree was scarred by messages carved into its branches and trunk, as well as charred by worshippers mainly from the Philippines, India and Pakistan lighting fires around it during cult rituals. A national committee for the preservation of historical and archaeological sites was supposed to be established in 2007 when 40 environmentalists, historians, archaeologists and scientists met at the Tree of Life. The gathering took place after it emerged the tree's trunk and roots had been burned. – TradeArabia News Service Sect rites harming Tree of Life       By MANDEEP SINGH,  Posted on » Thursday, December 18, 2008 SECTS practising ancient rites could be behind damage to the Tree of Life, it has emerged. Parts of the historic tree have been burned in what one councillor described as "weird" religious rituals. Ironically, the culprits could belong to a sect which worships trees, but is inadvertently damaging one of Bahrain's national treasures. Their ritual, practised in parts of India and Pakistan, includes burning twigs doused in incense in the hollow of a tree, said sources. The Tree of Life, said to be 400 years old, is also being targeted by vandals and youngsters who carve love messages on its trunk. A BD70,000 scheme to turn the site into a protected area has been on the books for two years, said Southern Municipal Council member and former services and public utilities committee chairman Dhiab Al Nuaimi. He said that in the meantime, the council was trying to get the police to guard the tree. "At the moment, we are only trying to get back the lone policeman posted at the site to guard the tree," Mr Al Nuaimi told the GDN. "The guard was removed more than a year ago and we have never been told why that has happened. We are now in touch with the Interior Ministry to get at least one guard, if not more, back." He said councillors had conducted their own investigations and found that parts of the tree were burnt. "In some places, old clothes have been hung and incense sticks have been found stuck at various places," said Mr Al Nuaimi. He said they believed some people with weird religious beliefs were conducting some ceremonies at the spot. "We were also told some holes dug into the tree were part of those beliefs," said Mr Al Nuaimi. He said some people carved messages on the tree to express their love for one another. "All this happens because there is no proper fencing and no police security," said Mr Al Nuami. But he said things should change once the development plan goes ahead. "It should have been completed this year, but the plan is yet to begin due to bureaucratic and other hurdles," said Mr Al Nuaimi. He said the plan entailed having a walkway, shaded areas, a cafe, children's rides, toilets, a traditional market for handicrafts and a food stall opening during weekends. Earlier, a GDN reader, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was completely taken aback by what he saw at the Tree of Life. "Someone has burnt two holes in trunk of the tree," he said. "One of the major branches was lying on the ground, some were dead on the tree itself. I felt hurt to the see the tree in such a bad state." The Tree of Life stands alone in the desert. The source of water remains a mystery because it stands in a place completely free of water. No one from the Information and Culture Ministry or the Interior Ministry was available for comment. mandeep@gdn.com.bh  Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;