Coat of arms of Lebanon. What tree is depicted on the coat of arms of Lebanon?

The Republic of Lebanon is a small state located in the Middle East. The coat of arms of Lebanon does not differ in complexity and in a large number of details. Its central figure is a tree. What tree on the arms of Lebanon is depicted? What does it mean for the country?

Republic of Lebanon

Lebanon is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Its only neighbors are Israel (in the south) and Syria (in the north and east). The republic covers 10,542 square kilometers. It is inhabited by 4.5 million inhabitants.

Almost the whole territory of the country is covered with mountains. For this, it is often called Middle Eastern Switzerland. Low flat areas of relief are found only in the Bekaa valley and on the coast. Lebanon is the most wooded country in the Middle East. The basis of the vegetable world is coniferous trees.

The Muslim and Christian cultures have long been arguing on the territory of the republic. The population professing Islam is almost 60%, Christianity - 40%. However, under the Constitution, Lebanon is considered a secular state.

Of all the Arab countries, the largest number of Christians here. In this regard, state power in Lebanon is built on the basis of confessionalism. The president of the country should be a Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker is a Shiite Muslim. This ensures equal access of religious confessions to power.

The flag and the arms of Lebanon

The flag and the coat of arms of the country are its official symbols. They were adopted in 1943, immediately after gaining independence from France. The flag represents a rectangular panel with a 2: 3 aspect ratio. His composition is very similar to the coat of arms of Lebanon. The difference is only in the direction of the bands.

The coat of arms of Lebanon and its flag are divided into three bands. In the arms they are diagonal, and on the flag - horizontal. The edges are painted in red, and the middle - in white. In the center of the white section is a green tree.

In the traditional interpretation, the red areas symbolize the struggle against the enslavers of the republic, namely the French and the Ottomans. White color means purity, and is also a symbol of snowy mountain peaks.

According to another version, the arms of Lebanon depict clans of two tribes - the Kauzites and the Yemenites. From the VII to the XVIII century, they constantly argued for influence in the country, and they deserved the right to get on the coat of arms and the flag in the form of colored stripes.

Tree on the arms of Lebanon

The central figure of the country's symbols is the Lebanese cedar. It is considered sacred and associated with immortality. On the flag and the emblem of the republic, he was portrayed even during the protectorate of France. Instead of the red and white stripes, there was a French tricolor.

The image of the tree, placed on the coat of arms of Lebanon, is associated with Christianity. In addition to the national symbol, it is also a sign of the Maronite Church, whose communities are widespread in Lebanon and Syria.

Lebanese cedar is considered to be the national tree of the republic. In ancient times rooks were made from him for the Pharaohs of Egypt. He is even devoted to the state award, which is called - the Order of Cedar.

Unfortunately, the status of the sacred symbol could not save the tree from cutting down. Now only a few small groves remained from him. One of them is in the northern part of Lebanon and is called Horsh-Arz-er-Rab, which translates as "Divine Cedar Forest".