According to one of numerous fables, King Solomon, the king of Israel who built the first Temple in Jerusalem, wore a beautiful crown decorated with delicate cyclamen blossoms. Hundreds of years later, when the First Temple was destroyed, and the Jews were exiled to Babylon, they took with them the royal crown. The cyclamens that bedecked the crown were devastated by the tragedy and bent their heads in sorrow. And that is why, even today, cyclamen flowers bow their heads.
Of course, you may prefer the botanical explanation: The cyclamen's humble blossom protects its pollen from getting drenched in the rain.
Cyclamen are blessed with other natural defences as well: The undersides of their heart-shaped leaves are often purple, a colour that heats the leaves and helps keep cyclamen warm during freezing winter days.
We followed a trail through the forest, soon finding ourselves at the Keroa
ruins, above. The Hebrew name retains the sound of the Arabic name,
Khirbet Kharua, which means the Castor Ruins. The ruins include a
building with three levels. The upper level includes cattle fences. The second
level, from the Byzantine Period, originally included a building with two
rooms, 16 metres long and 8 metres wide. Later, a third room was added on the
eastern side of the building. The lower level of the building (the earliest)
has not been excavated.
Archaeologists are not certain that the building is a synagogue dating back to
the Talmudic period*. However, it faces Jerusalem and has a row of stones that
could have served as benches for Jewish worshippers. Not only that, but there
are five steps inside a large, plastered pit only a few metres away that lead
to a rectangular bath. Since its dimensions conform to Jewish law, it seems
likely that this is a
mikveh, or
ritual bath, and that the building served as a Jewish house of worship.
We carried on exploring the slopes of the forest. There were many pretty
flowers to be seen, including the beautiful and plentiful cyclamen, red
anemone, the white and yellow Palestine Iris and more. We saw one
family collecting huge mushrooms, which can be found among the trees. Olive,
fig and carob trees can be seen in the valleys, where fertile soil
accumulates. The carob trees were planted here early on, so that herds of
sheep and goats could feed off their delicious fruit. Unfortunately, when a
steady diet of carob caused the poor animals to miscarry repeatedly, the
idea was discontinued. The chalk slopes of the forest are not so fertile, so
the KKL-JNF planted conifer trees (Jerusalem pine and cypress) on them.
These particular trees can thrive in harsh conditions.
An ancient kiln, estimated to be around 1,500-year-old, can also be seen
in the forest. The kiln is a huge pit that was dug in the ground
and lined with two layers of stones. Limestone was burned in it in order
to produce plaster. Plaster was a mainstay used to insulate cistern
walls, in plastering roofs and as a substitute for refrigeration. Food
that is covered with plaster, like eggs and watermelons, can be
preserved for a long period.
When the furnace was in operation, a structure resembling a dome was built
above the pit, in which the limestone to be fired was placed. Inside the
pit the fuel was kindled, most likely the Thorny burnet plant common to this area, which was inserted through a special
opening. The furnace would burn for 3 to 6 days, depending on its size.
When the dome started turning red, it was the sign that it was time to
stop adding fuel. The opening was then closed and after a few days, when
the furnace cooled, the walls were disassembled and the product was taken
out - burnt lime.
The furnace is well preserved and has been restored. It is six metres deep
and its diameter is about 4 metres.
In the open expanses that surround Hamalachim - Shahariya Forest, the
vegetation that grows is primarily desert brush. The most ubiquitous shrub
is the buckthorn, which is known for its tiny leaves, its round berries
that turn black and its branches that end with thorny points. Other common
plants are the aforementioned Thorny burnet and the
common thatching grass, also known as Coolatai grass, which flourishes between the rocks. You
can also find the
wild marjoram, also known as hyssop, which is the main ingredient of the famous Middle
Eastern spice
za'atar. It is an endangered species and it is forbidden to pick it.
** This post has been shared on The Good. The Random. The Fun., Nature Notes, Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Sharon's Souvenirs, Tuesday's Treasures and My Corner of the World.
