An evergreen tree or shrub (Boswellia carteri) growing to 6 m/20 ft, native to Somaliland; leaves pinnate with oval leaflets, crowded towards the ends of the twigs; flowers white, 5-petalled. Aromatic resin is obtained from cuts in the bark. (Family: Burseraceae.)
Frankincense or olibanum is an aromatic resin obtained from the tree Boswellia thurifera or B.
Frankincense is tapped from Boswellia trees through slashing the bark and allowing the exuded resins to harden. Omani frankincense is said to be the best in the world, although quality resin is also produced in Yemen and along the north coast of Somalia.
History
The name for this resin likely comes from “incense of Franks” since it was reintroduced to Europe by Frankish Crusaders.
The lost city of Ubar, sometimes identified with Irem in what is now the town of Shisr in Oman, is believed to have been a centre of the frankincense trade along the recently rediscovered 'Incense Road'.
Use
Frankincense is used in perfumery and aromatherapy. Frankincense was lavishly used in religious rites. According to the Bible's Gospel of Matthew 2:11, gold, frankincense and myrrh were among the gifts to Jesus by the magi 'from out of the east'. The growth of Christianity depressed the market for frankincense during the fourth century CE. Additionally, increased raiding by the nomadic Parthians in the Near East caused the frankincense trade to dry up after about 300 CE. Darling Biomedical Library Spice Exhibit Frankincense and Myrrh 2002
Related Sites
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Frankincense Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Frankincense Frankincense- Frankincense UNESCO-UNESCO Frankincense Trail Dhofar Province, Oman Trade Between Arabia and the Empires of Rome and Asia-Metropolitan Museum of Art Lost City of Arabia Interview with Dr. Juris Zarins-Nova September 1996 Pictures of Ubar-NASA August 3, 1995 Aroma of Frankincense- Scent Directory"Frankincense" as a fictitious name
"Frankincense" is the actual name of the character called "Frank" in the play and movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
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