Tree of Life

Hyphaene Thebaica, common name Doum Palm, was sacred to ancient Egyptians and was a symbol of male strength and virility. The fruit or seeds of this tree have been found in tombs and depictions of it's distinct dichotomous trunk shape are found on tomb walls. The Doum Palm is sacred to the Goddess Opet (Ipy, Ipet, Apet), mother of Osiris. Coptic tradition says that this is the tree Adam brought out of Paradise.

There is little doubt that men have aided in the cultivation of Palm trees with the Doum species most widely distributed. Although it is thought to have originated in Ethiopia, it is found on the perimeter of the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and its islands. Contrary to it's wide range, the Doum Palm is hard to germinate. The outer skin and pulp must first be removed, therefore, elephants and baboons were probably the initial method of dispersal. It takes about a year for the shoot axis to appear above ground because the seed is spending most of it's energy sending out a tap root and locating underground water. During this year, the seedling must remain moist but can then withstand a year of arid conditions. It is unknown how long the seed can remain underground in a dormant state waiting for wet conditions. The Eritrean word for this palm is Arkobkobai but I could not find the etymology. (Perhaps Arkob is cobra?) The masticated outer rind of the fruit is used medicinally for many ailments. Traditionally, it has been used as a fertility enhancer, a hypertension reliever and to kill tapeworms. Studies conducted by Egypt's Mansoura University found that it significantly lowered high blood pressure, lowered bad cholesterol, and raised the good cholesterol.

The entire palm tree is utilized by indigenous peoples. The fronds cover a wooden frame to create shelter. The hard center of the nut is carved into fetishes and is called nut ivory. The sap is used as a tincture and the fleshy outer fruit is brewed into a tea. Domus is a "house of God" and could be derived from this word. Dome, home, domestic, dame and a myriad of other words pertaining to domicile seem to be related but are not attested. Doum is also the Arabic word for "drum".

The hieroglyphic representation of the Doum is m3m3 with a palm leaf ideogram. This is most assuredly pronounced the same as mama. Since Opet is the mother of Osiris, perhaps this is the origination of this word (although linguists will say it is a coincidence). The mother of Osiris is the pre-dynastic earth mother of the upper Nile region. I contend that the m3 phonogram that resembles a Hebrew "lamed" is a symbol of the first arc - the maternal pelvic bone that supports and cradles the pre-born child while still in the womb. Paleontologists are able to immediately distinguish the sex of skeletal remains by examining this bone. Ritualized insemination of mothers of Pharaohs take place in a hollow tree trunk to; 1) hide paternity so that Ra could take his place, and; 2) to emulate Osiris' conception. One of the oldest artifacts found not made of stone is a hollow Doum trunk from the Kharga Oasis. The Hebrew letter vav which means to "swell forth" could be from the ancient belief that the Doum palm creates fecundity. The divine virility of the Doum rises through the trunk and can be exploited at the fork. It is interesting that trunk, fork and Throne all derive from the same proto-Indo European root. If phonemes carry meaning then the traditions associated with the Doum can explain the common denominator of these words.

Another clue that the Doum is responsible for creation of life is a fermented wine called mkoma. The new growth of a palm limb is cut off and produces a naturally fermented drink when turned upside down with water added. The ostracon on the left shows the new growth cut off on the bifurcated trunk. The two baboons on a leash appear to be retrieving the fruit nuts and are controlled by the Nubian. Baboons are holy (qodesh) to the god Thoth and are frequently seen on either side of the Djed symbol. Perhaps the Djed pillar is the new growth of the Doum cut off and turned upside down awaiting the creation of new life - fermentation. And since blood is life perhaps this is the origin of the Nilo-Saharan word for blood - Dam.