The Judas tree, İstanbul’s forgotten color and symbol

In ancient times, it used to be that humans could obtain a variation of this color by using dye from red bugs (coccus ilicis or koşnil). But one bug would produce at most a few drops of this color -- which is why wearing the color of a Judas tree was not only a sign of political strength, but also wealth. Having acquired trading skills from the people of Kenan, the Phoenicians, whose name derives from the Ancient Greek word phoinikèia, meaning red, began producing and marketing this reddish dye. This is a color that has always been the mark of leaders both in the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire, as well as in the Ottoman Empire. Despite the fact that the tulip may now be known as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, the fact is it is really the symbol of one particular Ottoman period.

The day the Byzantine Empire was founded was on May 11, which was celebrated as the day the flowers of the Judas trees blossomed in İstanbul. The Ottoman Empire conquered İstanbul on May 29, 1453, which corresponded to the time when Judas tree flowers were in full blossom. The Judas tree is a Mediterranean tree called Cercis siliquastrum in Latin. It was used for a range of purposes during the Ottoman Empire, from making canes to making salads. Shamanists boiled Judas tree bark to keep away sicknesses. Temples, castles and the homes, clothes and shows of the royals were always in the color of the Judas tree. Emperors and aristocrats believed their blood was the color of the Judas tree, in other words purplish. The public was forbidden from using this color. The children of the emperors were born and raised in rooms decorated in the Judas tree color and therefore these children were given the name Porphyrogenitos, which meant born in purple. Royal families in the Roman and Byzantine empires wore special Judas tree-colored ceremonial clothes, and no one except the emperor could wear a Judas tree-colored cloak.

According to Christianity, when Jesus was being taken to be hung on the cross, The Romans threw a purplish color cloth over him to denigrate him and after Judas, a disciple of Jesus, betrayed him, Judas hanged himself on the Judas tree because he was so ashamed of what he had done, causing its white flowers to turn pink and then red to signify shame. This is where the Judas tree (which is also known as the redbud tree) gets it name. The Judas tree has been a symbol of İstanbul throughout every period in history. There are reports that İstanbul was founded during the time Judas trees were in blossom, as well. Heralding the start of spring in May and disappearing quickly, Judas trees are İstanbul's beautiful, bashful decoration.

İstanbul should reunite with its long-time Judas tree flowers and color. Neither the sign nor the color of the Judas tree is present in the official emblem of the governorship, metropolitan municipality or other municipalities. Although Judas Tree celebrations have been organized every year since 2000, these efforts do not encompass the entire city. Rarely do you come across or feel the Judas trees in gardens, streets, roads, squares and parks in İstanbul, which is the city that hosts these trees. You cannot come across canes, figurines or furniture made from Judas trees. You cannot find restaurants that prepare salads and dishes with Judas flowers in İstanbul, nor can you find cafes that boil and sell hot or cold drinks made from Judas trees.