CALL ME CAROB
I grow on sacred soil. Let me tell you my story:
Here, on this part of the island of Cyprus, the earth rises up to look over the blue expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. When the earliest sailors arrived here, by chance or good fortune, they settled down on the coast to fish and chose this plateau as their place of worship. A temple for the Goddess of Cyprus was built here, and the earth became dark and heavy with the weight of their belief. Later, the Greek God Poseidon thrust his trident forward and created his daughter Aphrodite out of the frothy crest of a large coastal wave. She emerged from the waters and stepped gracefully onto the shores below. Aphrodite’s beauty and her skills in the art of love became legendary. Homer’s vivid description of the “Sanctuary of Aphrodite” attracted devotees from near and afar to her temple upon this very plateau. Pilgrims arrived here in masses, bringing with them a plethora of gifts and sacrifices. Precious stones, elaborately carved figures, and, of course, the finest food and drink were laid down. And so, my carob ancestors came to this sacred place as a valued gift: seeds intended as a noble offering to the gods.
My fruits are coveted. Inside their leathery cases, they present rows of dark rounded beans.
Resembling beads of volcanic obsidian, these beans contain within a rich formula of ingredients that may either unfold into a magnificent tree or dissolve conveniently into the hungry bellies of followers as an offering of nutriment and strength. Aphrodite herself sought refuge with me. I spread my awning over her and provided protection from the burning sun and the greedy glares of aspiring admirers. Above all, I granted her safety from the punishing gaze of the gods. Aphrodite found solace in the bittersweet taste of my fruit, and her tears fell to my feet. As an ever-thirsty being, I hence absorbed her delightful essence into me, my body becoming a part of her, and her body evolving into a part of me.
We understand each other now, Aphrodite and I. I stand today in the line of my ancestors as a worthy witness to her divinity. People keep coming to me over the centuries, like boats in a storm drifting to harbor. From time to time, people’s tears also fall to the soil around. Gently, I absorb them into my body. They too seek and find shelter.
Home:
Cyprus, Kouklia, Sanctuary of Aphrodite
Tree species:
Ceratonia siliqua
Tree family:
Caesalpinioideae, subspecies of the legume family (Fabaceae)
Common Names:
Carob tree, Johannisbrotbaum (German)
Motivation:
Excavations have proven the historical importance of the site: “Sanctuary of Aphrodite” in Kouklia. For me, this carob embodies the essence and spirit of this sacred place. This beautiful tree stands on the grounds of the old temple, and I could virtually hear the voices of the thousands of pilgrims who have come to bathe in the aura of Aphrodite’s beauty and love.