The Hangman’s Tree, Damascus

‎This tree is one of the curiosities of the city. It grows not far from the public square in one of the crowded streets. It is a plane tree with deciduous palmate leaves and whitish bark. It is said that the plane tree was highly esteemed in ancient Greece, and that “the youth of Greece were accustomed to assemble under the shade of the plane tree in the groves of Academus to receive lessons in philosophy.” The immense gnarled branches of this great plane tree bear the mark of hoary antiquity, and its trunk is nearly forty feet in circumference. It is not far from the citadel, and one of its branches has been used as a gallows for public execution. The cedar, the plane and the palm tree of the Lebanon and the desert are justly celebrated, and it is to be regretted that in central and southern Palestine the palm and the plane have almost disappeared, though they were once the glory of Jericho and of other ancient cities. What a lesson the great plane tree of Damascus has preached here quite unheeded during all the centuries of its noble growth! It rises from these dirty streets and dingy houses into purer airs and sunny skies without a spot on its emerald garments or a distortion of its vigorous branches. It was in this way that Christianity began in the city of Damascus, and it has grown until its leaves cast their shadows over millions of human hearts, and from it descend both bloom and balm for the blessing of those who put themselves under its protecting influence.