CINNAMOMO (EBR. QINNĀMŌN, GRECO ΚΥΝΝΆΜΩ-ΜΟΝ)

CINNAMON (Hebrew qinnāmōn, Greek κυννάμω-μον) — An aromatic ingredient of the oil of unction (Ex 30:23). It is often listed together with other perfumes, such as cassia, myrrh, and aloe. Because of the rare excellence of this perfume, the bride in Cant 4:14 and divine Wisdom in Sir 24:20 are compared to cinnamon. The true cinnamon is extracted from the aromatic plant Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which is abundant on the island of Ceylon. The ancients, who were unaware of this plant, may have meant by this name the black cassia or Chinese cinnamon (cinnamon?).