Mount Hermon and the Beqaa Valley: Tracing Sacred Names, Memory, and a Fading Landscape

Mount Hermon, rising on the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, is more than a geographic landmark—it is a sacred and cultural symbol deeply tied to Semitic linguistic traditions, religious narratives, and political histories. The name “Hermon,” rooted in the Semitic triliteral root ḥrm, embodies meanings of consecration, prohibition, and sanctity. Yet, through centuries of linguistic evolution and shifting cultural interpretations, its original resonance has become increasingly difficult to trace. This study explores how the mountain’s name and meaning have been shaped across epochs, from biblical and apocryphal texts to Greco-Roman inscriptions, Islamic traditions, and modern geopolitical discourse. It also highlights how oral traditions and cultural memory among local communities preserve Hermon’s significance even as natural features and ecological distinctiveness face erosion. By integrating linguistic, theological, archaeological, and political perspectives, the article underscores Hermon’s role as both a spiritual beacon and a contested frontier. Ultimately, the research calls attention to the urgent need to preserve not only the linguistic and historical legacies of Mount Hermon but also its fragile natural environment and cultural memory.