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Cover Picture: (Isr. J. Chem. 11‐12/2015)
Author(s) -
Ehud Keinan,
Charles E. Diesendruck,
Manfred T. Reetz
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201581101
Subject(s) - symbol (formal) , greeks , wonder , prosperity , luck , monarchy , garden of eden , politics , history , literature , ancient history , classics , art , philosophy , art history , theology , law , epistemology , political science , linguistics
The pomegranate, which is known in the Mediterranean region for several thousand years, is rich in history and symbolism in almost any culture. Ancient Egyptians regarded it as a symbol of prosperity and ambition, and for the ancient Persians it symbolized fertility. Likewise, for the ancient Greeks the pomegranate symbolized abundance, fertility, and good luck. This unique fruit, one of the Seven Species of fruits and grains enumerated in the Bible, has a special place in the Jewish tradition. Its numerous seeds symbolize fruitfulness and fertility. Pomegranates were brought by the scouts to Moses to demonstrate the fertility of the Promised Land. King Solomon is said to have designed his coronet based on the pomegranate’s crown. Many Jewish scholars believe that the pomegranate was the Forbidden Fruit of the Garden of Eden. No wonder that the pomegranate appears on ancient coins of Judea as a holy symbol. As a symbol of fruitfulness, knowledge, learning and wisdom, the pomegranate represents the benefits of science, human productivity and intellectual creativity. No other symbol could better represent the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany. The scientific relations between the two countries paved the way to the more formal political relations, catalyzed the fruitful interactions between the two communities and yielded a whole garden of hybrid pomegranates of wisdom and knowledge. Mrs. Dina Mid of the Technion Printing Unit is acknowledged for the graphic artwork.