Olive Oil in Mediterranean cultures

The olive is a long-living plant and the first to be cultivated in the Mediterranean area. The tree, with its typical contorted trunks and branches with silvery leaves can live longer than 20 generations several hundred years. Over the millennia, the olive has become a symbol linking the various cultures of the Mediterranean region. The oldest historical references to the olive tree and its fruit have been attributed as far back as 4500 years ago, with the ancient Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations. Olive oil was an essential element of the ancient world it was far more than a simple agricultural product and its use was and not limited to the culinary use.

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To many ancient Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern populations represented the gods’ blessing. The olive tree and even the land where olive groves prosper seem to be an intrinsic element of the regional cultural patrimony, always present in numerous anecdotes and legends of several countries. In Homer's Odyssey, Ulysses escaped with his men from the huge Cyclops by pushing a sharpened olive branch deep into the giant's single eye. At the end of his interminable journey home after 20 years of adventure and misfortune, Ulysses identifies himself to his wife Penelope by reminding her of a their mutual secret nobody else could possibly know: their nuptial bed was carved from a single olive trunk.

Scented olive oil was used by both Greeks and Romans to massage the body after bathing or to warm up muscles before exercising and taking part in sporting competitions. Olive crowns awarded the heads of the first Olympic winners in ancient Greece, a practice adapted later on by the Romans to honor marrying couples and famous citizens who had made great contributions to Rome and its empire . The Roman emperors used olive oil as a sacred offering, their ceremonies and coronations consecrated with it.

Antique traditions and the Catholic religion portray the plant and its leaves as a symbol of peace as described in ancient Greek myths where the olive was emblem of times of peace. It was also the symbol of life and of hope in the biblical tale when was carried the by the dove who came flying to Noah after the flood rains had come to an end. This biblical anecdote confirmed the olive tree and its leaves as the great symbol of peace, indicating the end of God's resentment. And its recognition by Noah suggests that it was already a well-known tree in ancient times.

Jesus spent his last hours in the olive grove of Getsemane, still a famous destination for today’s pilgrims. The greatest religious significance of olive oil is documented in the Book of Exodus, where the Lord tells Moses how to make an unguent of herbs, spices and olive oil. During consecration, consecrated olive oil was poured over the heads of kings and priests. Still these days the olive branch is a symbol of peace and the Roman catholic church uses pure olive oil in several important ceremonies such us the baptisms and for the last rites. On Palm Sunday in Italy, Catholics followers make sure to exchange with each other an olive sprig to bring into their homes as symbol of peace and prosperity.