Mythology

All the ancient peoples around the rim of the Mediterranean laid claim to the discovery of the olive tree. The olive has always had positive connotations like peace, fertility, strength, victory, glory, and even purification and sanctity.

Six thousand years ago the ancient Egyptians believed that it was Isis, the greatest of all the goddesses and wife of Osiris, who had taught mankind how to grow and use olives.

Greek mythology describes how Zeus promised to give Attica to the god or goddess who offered the most useful invention. It was Athena, Goddess of wistom and peace, who won the contest with her gift of the olive tree and its soothing, nourishing oil. Athena became the goddess of Athens and her olive tree was said to be planted on the rock of the Acropolis. In Rome the olive tree was sacred to Minerva and Jupiter.

Legend has it that a cedar, a cypress and an olive tree grew on Adam's grave on the slopes of mount Tabor. All there of the holy books abound in references to the olive. Jesus suffered his passion in the garden of Gethsemane on the mount of Olives. The cross itself was made of olive wood. Early Christianity practised baptism by anointing with oil. In Genesis, it was an olive branch that the dove brought back to the Ark, proving to Noah that the waters were subsiding after the flood. The olive branch has been regarded as a symbol of peace and goodwill ever since and the olive tree a symbol of immortality.