Cinnamon (Heb. Qinnāmōn, Greek κυνάμωμον)

CINNAMOMO (Hebr. qinnāmōn, Greek κυνάμω-μον). – An aromatic element of anointing oil (Ex. 30:23). It is often mentioned in enumeration with other perfumes, such as cassia, myrrh, and aloe. Because of the rare exquisiteness of this perfume, the bride in Cant. 4:14 and divine Wisdom in Eccl. 24:20 are compared to c. True c. is extracted from the aromatic plant Cinnamomum zeylanicum, abundant on the island of Ceylon. The ancients, who were unaware of this plant, perhaps understood by this name black cassia, or c. from China (cinnamon?).