Olive tree

the tree of life

The olive tree was the symbol of the whole Mediterranean area during ancient times. Thanks to the olives it served as
a source of food and olive oil. Also, it was well respected and revered as one of two of the most important Greek
mythical trees, along with the oak. The olive tree and olive oil were elements of great symbolism in Greece

The origin of the Olive trees in the city of Athens is explained through the intervention of the Goddess Athena. This
goddess was the daughter of Zeus (supreme God of Greek mythology) and Metis who symbolized prudence and
cunning. Athena was a warrior Goddess whose attributes were the spear, helmet and aegis. In addition Athena was
Goddess of justice and wisdom and protector of arts and literature. Her sacred animal was the owl and the olive tree
was one of her most recognized symbols. The reason that the olive tree symbolized the Goddess is explained through
the following mythic passage:

Poseidon, God of the seas and Zeus' brother, coveted earthly kingdoms and so claimed the possession of Attica,
driving his trident into the Athenian Acropolis which became a well of salt water. Later, Athena came to town
and took it in a very peaceful way calling Cecrops, first King of Athens, as a witness. Athena made an olive tree
spring from just next to the well. Poseidon, in anger, challenged the goddess, but Zeus intervened and ordered
the formation of a divine tribunal to decide which of the two Gods should be enshrined in the city. Thus, the
tribunal formed by the Olympic deities, after listening to the testimony of Cecrops decided to side with Athena. It was
determined that it was she who had the right to own the land because she had given the city the greatest
gift: the first olive tree. Thenceforth, the city adopted the name of Athens and the olive tree planted by Athena
was revered for centuries in the Acropolis symbolizing the victory.

In Greece the olive tree symbolizes peace and prosperity, as well as resurrection and hope. This was demonstrated
by the events after the burning of Athens by the Persian King Xerxes in the V century BC. Xerxes burned the
entire Acropolis city, within which was the centenary of olive trees of Athena, which was also burned. However,
when the Athenians entered the scorched city, the olive tree had already grown a branch, symbolizing the rapid
recuperation and renovation of the Athenians in the face of adversity.

Hercules also, one of the most well-known mythological heroes, is related to the olive tree. Even though he was very
young Hercules managed to kill the Cithaeron lion which was ravaging the countryside, using only his own hands and
a wooden stake from a wild olive tree. This act identified the olive tree with strength and resistance. Hercules is also
famous for his twelve labors ("Herculean labors") commissioned by his cousin Eurystheus in order to atone his sins
after he killed his family in a blind frenzy. During these labors he used various weapons, including a club, which is
one of the most significant attributes of Hercules, along with the lion skin. This club was made of the wood from
an olive tree and if it was dug into the ground it began to take root to until it converted into tree. Amongst
other things, with this club Hercules managed to corner the Nemea lion in a cave and then he strangled it with his
own hands.
The olive tree, being considered a sacred tree, was often used as an offering to the Gods from the mortals. This is
demonstrated in the story of Theseus, the national hero of Attica, who also has the presence of the olive tree
in the story of his life. Theseus was the son of Aegeus, king of Attica, and throughout his life he had many
adventures. One of them was the confrontation with the Minotaur on the island of Crete. Before beginning his
adventure, Thesus begged protection of Apollo in return he gave an offering to the God of a sacred olive branch from
the Acropolis of Athens. This custom came from the Roman culture as testify the writings of Livy.

Also worth mentioning as an example is that of Orestes (the son of Agamemnon) and Clytemnestra who, by
order of Apollo, killed their mother and her lover Aegisthus after they murdered his parents. Orestes prayed to
Apollo to atone for his crimes and gave as an offering an olive branch.

The olive tree as well as being present in classic mythological literature, is also present in traditional religious
celebrations. Collective festivals held in each polis in honor of the gods was a key moment in the Greek cult.
So each city, or polis designed their own festival calendar, they even to compete with each other to achieve the best
celebration.

One of the most famous celebrations in Athens was the Panathenaic festival, celebrated in the honor of the Goddess
Athena, protector of the city. It used to be celebrated in the month of July and lasted various days, during which they
had horse races, gymnastic exhibitions, competitions and various musical and literary shows. To the winners of the
competitions they gave them a prize of an amphora (ceramic vase, as below) with olive oil that had been cultivated in
the Attican olive fields sacred to Athens.

The central act of this celebration was the procession that went through much of the city and culminated in the
Parthenon Temple situated in Acropolis. This procession was immortalized in the hands of sculptor Phidias, all along
the Parthenon frieze. The objective of the procession was to extend the offering of a robe or mantle to the goddess
Athena to cover her. All members of the community participated in the procession, including the magistrates, priests,
the winners crowned with a crown made from olive branches, the maidens from the most important families bearing
the offerings, the elderly carrying olive tree branches, warriors...

Sporting games celebrated in the city of Olympia, situated in Peloponnese, are another of the most important Greek
religious festivals. In this case they were celebrated with an interval of four years to honor the God Zeus. Their origin
isn't known for definite. Some traditions date back to the fifteenth century BC in commemoration of the victory in
the race of Pelops against Oenomaus, however another legend attributes the beginning of the Olympic games to
Dorian Hercules which places the date in 776 BC. The truth is that from this year onwards, the games held in Olympia
formed a part of the Panhellenic Games, and they were converted into the most important and prestigious Games
over other festivals such as Pythian Games celebrated in Delphi in honor of Apollo and Isthmian Games held in
Corinth in honor of Poseidon.
 During the celebration in Olympia, one of the challenges that took place was the Pentathalon which consisted in five
separate challenges: a running race, long jump, discus, javelin and wrestling or boxing. As well as the Pentathalon
there was chariot racing, horse races and wrestling competitions. During the Olympic Games, not only were there
physical tests but also intellectual tests. This is shown by the existence of literary and oratory competitions. The
olive tree was present in the Games through being the prize. It was a braided crown of wild olive branches that
were handed to the winners of the games, identifying itself again with victory. The athlete was recognized as a true
hero and his triumph was a source of pride for his home town.

The goodness of the olive tree was also demonstrated with the tradition that Higinio presents in his texts relating
how the Greeks situated in the bays of the main entrance to their houses and small olive branch as a symbol of
protection from evil spirits on the outside.

Fertility was another one of the olive tree's attributes. Athena was Goddess of fertility and as has been previously
mentioned, her symbol was the olive tree which was one of the trees most cultivated in Greece and its fruit fed the
Hellenes for centuries. As a result, the families who looked to gain fertility in their soils, looked to this tree. Testimony
of this identification of the olive tree with fertility are the processions which were held in honor of the God
Dionysus in which the community carried flowers, fruit and olive branches.

And so the relation between the Greek society and the olive tree was very intense. The demonstrations of how
special this tree was for the Greek society were abundant. It symbolized strength, victory, fertility, resistance and it
was a sacred element when offered to Gods. Also, virgin olive oil was considered as an object of great value by being
offered as the prize to the winners in the competitions.

Dimitris Drivas
HYGIENE MANAGER, MSC FOOD SCIENCE, FSMS LEAD AUDITOR
THE ROMANOS, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT
THE WESTIN RESORT
MESSINIA • GREECE

T +30 2723 097200 M +30 6979722666

E dimitris.drivas@costanavarino.com
Navarino dunes, costanavarino
24 001,messina, greece