Poetry

I was drawn to the exotic name (Ein Gedi) by a reference in a poem by the English poet Ted Hughes. He referred obliquely to the last of the leopards of Ein-Gedi in “Folk Tale” published in 1970 in his book of poems “Crow”. Here is an excerpt from this poem, which refers to the relationship between Hughes  and Assia Wevill a European who settled in Israel for a time after the War.

What he wanted
Was the gold, black-lettered pelt
Of the leopard of Ein-Gedi.
She wanted only the runaway slave.
………………………………………………….
He wanted the seven treasures of Asia–
Skin, eyes, lips, blood, hair knotted roughly
In seven different flags
(From Folktale by Ted Hughes)

While researching the poetic reference, Ein-Gedi, I came across the amazing YouTube video above made in 2008. There are still doubts as to whether any of the leopards from the original aristocratic dynasty of leopards that roamed the area still exist. And even whether any leopards at all still roam the wilderness areas of Ein-Gedi. I discovered that Hariton the leopard entered kibbutz Ein-Gedi twice in earlier years, and was once spotted carrying off in his fangs a house cat, which he later devoured. Apparently at this time there were two leopards left in the Judea Desert, Hariton and a female. Altogether there were only eight leopards in the entire country left up until a few years ago, according to a study from Tel Aviv University. The study, conducted by Inbar Perez in 2006 as part of her degree in zoology, was intended to provide the Nature and Parks Authority with information to help preserve the leopards, which have been in danger of extinction for years.  Fewer than 100 leopards are estimated to be left in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman) and in the rest of the region, including Israel, fewer than 50

Ein-Gedi is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea and one of the most important archaeological sites in the Judean Desert. The name means Kid Spring: a compound of two Hebrew words: ein meaning spring, and gdi meaning young goat. Ein-Gedi is actually the name of a spring which flows from a height of 656 feet above the Dead Sea. In the Bible, the wasteland near the spring where David sought refuge from Saul is called “the wilderness of Ein-Gedi” and the enclosed camps at the top of the mountains, the “strongholds of Ein-Gedi.” Ein-Gedi is mentioned for the first time in the Old Testament (Joshua 15, 61) among the list of the six desert-cities in the domain of the tribe of Judas (Yehudah). (Junior Judaica Encyclopedia)

The pictures and photos are reminiscent of images I gleaned from biblical references of the Garden of Eden: beautiful!

Isreal – Ein Gedi Waterfalls 001 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: “The Window Dry fall”, Ein Gedi, Israel עברית: מפל החלון שבקניון היבש, שמורת עין גדי, מדבר יהודה (Photo credit: Wikipedia)