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Ancient Greece

The Goddess of Wisdom and Strategist of Warfare: Athena was profoundly linked to the Olive Tree The God of the Seas and of Earthquakes: Poseidon too, was associated with the Olive Tree The God of Farming: Aristeos

There was a Competition of Divinities...

The Ancient Hellenic Leading God: Zeus held a competition for the deities that wished to become the heavenly patron of Attica. The best prize - for the inhabitants of Attica - would determine the winner.

Poseidon struck the soil with his three-pronged spear (a Trident). Water gushed from the earth. Soon there was a veritable stream. Someone tasted the water: it was salty and deemed not useful to the citizens of Attica.

Athena thrust her spear into a hilly area, (that area, later became the Acropolis). A silvery-green sapling appeared and grew steadily upwards seeking warm sunshine. Within minutes it flowered, producing, millions of tiny green fruits.

The tree became known as an olive tree. Man discovered the tree to be very useful. Its fruits were harvested. Early picking, produced a fruit which, once pickled, were edible and tasty. At a later picking, the same fruits, when pressed produced a delicious, healthy, oil. The tree needed pruning - its strong trunk, served as fuel or was used in construction.

A Divine gift

Athena symbolized peace and wisdom. The olive tree transcended to this day - as a tree revered for its excellence. The use of olive branches or wreaths bear a significance. The message is a representation of peace.

The citizens of Attica loved her, they changed the name of their city from Attica to Athens.

Aristeos, kick-started agriculture, in a manner that would benefit olive produce to a maximum degree. Healthy olive groves of Ancient Civilizations: equated with affluent societies.

Hercules

The God of Victory and Commerce: Hercules (his Roman name) also planted an Olive tree on Mount Olympia. King Iphitos opted that winners from the Olympic Games were to be crowned with a wreath мейд from the branches of the tree that Hercules planted. The significance of these wreaths symbolized: worthy champions. Olympic winners thereafter were credited to having Divine Powers.

The Temple of Hercules (or Vesta) Olivarius was named after Hercules by the oil merchants of Ancient Rome.

Chrism in Ancient and Modern Times

Chrism is a blend of olive oil and balsam. Chrism is used to sanctify during blessings and Christenings. Royalty and Dignitaries were anointed with Chrism. Saints' were hallowed by receiving drops of Chrism which percolated into their graves. Olympic champions received a daub of chrism, glorifying their victories.

For thousands of years this tree has influenced mankind. Without it history would have been very different. It is a tree to venerate. Now and for The Future.

The has influenced diet in the Mediterranean for thousands of year - since the days of Ancient Greece and Rome. It was Spain that took the Olive Tree to the Americas.

Visit How did the Iberian peninsular become the Spain that we know today? History combined with amazing geographical, contrasting, harmony. The cornerstone of Universal Education was lain by the civilizations that inhabited Spain throughout the centuries.