Abstract:

This article is on the rice given the name Storaks in the Late Ancient and Middle Ages. Styrax officinalis L. by snowbell, tr. In addition to a species that is obtained, with a hard and golden color and therefore called "hard storaks", Liqudambar orientalis Mill.From the English. Oriental sweetgum, Tr. There is also a species that is obtained, clinging and less rigid, and therefore known as "fluid storaks". Both trees grow in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in the Southern Anadolu. Thro history, the rice extracted from these two trees has been used in medicine, perfume manufacturing, liturgy and magic. The fact that there is often no distinction between these two rings, which are similar in historical sources, makes the work of modern researchers difficult. One of the objectives of this article is to distinguish between two types of indirect and limited references in texts. It is believed that the solid storage, which is widely used in the classical era, left its place in the late Ancient and in the Middle Ages in the liquid storage. Despite this assumption, the current work is less found and, although expensive, the solid stock is also available in the late periods. Additionally, the data obtained on storaks trade shows us that South Anadolu was part of the East Trade Networks in the Byzantine Period. The widespread use of Storaksin in the Byzantine medical text, magic texts and religious and popular images indicates how important the matter is in the Byzantine culture.

Keywords: