Do you know what myrrh is ?
2006-12-18 08:47:08 · 10 answers · asked by Kerilyn 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Myrrh is a red-brown resinous material, the dried sap of the tree Commiphora myrrha, native to Somalia and the eastern parts of Ethiopia. The sap of a number of other Commiphora and Balsamodendron species are also known as myrrh, including that from Commiphora erythraea (sometimes called East Indian myrrh), Commiphora opobalsamum and Balsamodendron kua. Its name is derived from the Hebrew murr or maror, meaning "bitter".
Myrrh is currently used in some liniments, healing salves that may be applied to abrasions and other minor skin ailments. It is also used in the production of Fernet Branca.
Myrrh is a constituent of perfumes and incense, was highly prized in ancient times, and was often worth more than its weight in gold. In ancient Rome myrrh was priced at 5 times as much as frankincense, though the latter was far more popular. Myrrh was burned in ancient Roman funerals to mask the smell emanating from charring corpses. It was said that the Roman Emperor Nero burned a year's worth of myrrh at the funeral of his wife, Poppaea.
2006-12-18 08:54:15 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
a yellowish brown to reddish brown aromatic gum resin with a bitter slightly pungent taste obtained from a tree (especially Commiphora abyssinica of the family Burseraceae) of eastern Africa and Arabia
Why did dried tree sap make good presents? Frankincense and myrrh, like their counterpart gold, were fairly rare and expensive. Besides their monetary value, both substances have symbolic and practical value. They continue to be sold today in a wide variety of products intended for an even wider variety of uses.
2006-12-18 16:51:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Myrrh is an herb which can be made into a salve or have the oil extracted.
2006-12-18 16:52:48 · answer #3 · answered by missi8301 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always forget if myrrh is the incense herby stuff or if its the perfumed oil.
(Thanks for the link, Pheonix!)
2006-12-18 16:50:11 · answer #4 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrh
2006-12-18 16:49:26 · answer #5 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myrrh
2006-12-18 16:55:50 · answer #6 · answered by todaywiserthanyesterday 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an aromatic gum resin from a tree that had great value as incense and other useful purposes and used in religious ceremonies.
2006-12-18 16:53:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Can ya give the scripture where it says this was given to the "INFANT" Jesus? Or does the Scripture say "..given to the young child..." ?
2006-12-18 16:50:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's burial spices--foreshadowing the reason He came to the earth in the first place: to die for our sins.
2006-12-18 16:51:07 · answer #9 · answered by chdoctor 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
perfumed herbs.
gold=gold
frankinscence=inscence
myrrh=herbs/oil.
2006-12-18 16:51:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋