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"If the date palm is the main Tree of Life commonly

shown on the Assyrian palace reliefs, this could neatly

explain the lattice work pattern that is so evident. The

trunk of the commonly seen variety of palm tree is

patterned in that way because it grows upwards with

new leaves, which leave the lattice pattern (see Figure

A, below) when they fall off. Another possibility is that

branches of trees were deliberately tied together at the

nodes and fashioned into a lattice; or living branches

were trained in those directions as an espalier.

"One theory of the genies that protect the tree is that they are not holding pine cones at all but rather they have the male flower of the date and are pollinating the tree, while holding a bucket of male flowers, so that it will continue to bear dates in the following year. This is a very attractive theory because the date palm was a great source of food and the date palm is emblematic of the region.

"Some of the abstract trees

shown in Assyrian art are clearly

pomegranates, as the fruit is

distinctive, but many others are

much more like date palms.

Parpola notes that this artistic

form of the Tree is principally

characterized by the “garland”

of cones, pomegranates, or

palmettes surrounding its crown and/or trunk. I suggest that the pomegranates designate that species and the palmettes designate a palm tree."