Origin of the menorah

[lethargic_man]

This was topical (for פרשת בהעלותך) when I first learned of this, but when I brought the sedra sheet home to blog from, it got buried beneath other things, and out of sight, out of mind...

Did you know that the shape of the menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum which is the symbol ancient and modern of the Jewish state, is closely based on that of a local plant, Salvia palestina?

(And once again, the only image I can find to illustrate my point comes from a nutty messianic site. *sigh*)

Comments

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

Duz it have flowers like almonds?

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Judge for yourself. (http://www.jardin-des-senteurs.ch/catalogue/description.asp?art=SA7721) (Maybe not the flowers per se, but certainly other bits of it.)

[ploni-bat-ploni.livejournal.com]

Fascinating...

Now I wonder, do we have to make the arms of the menorah curved, or angular (as Chabad does), because when one looks at the plant, it could be either way. It's beautiful. A beautiful plant.

Amazing!

Judaism rocks :-) Now, that's a good sentiment for YK!

[snjstar.livejournal.com]

Very interesting

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I have never seen such a plant. What kind of plant is that? Even nature celebrates Chanuka.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

It's a species of sage.