The olive tree — a millenary unexpected gift
Article by Florinela Stratu
olive tree or “the tree which is always fructiferous”,
his Trident in a rock, and in the place where his ter-
as it is called, because of its amazing power of re-
rible strike touched the ground a salt water spring
generation is native from Syria and the Mediter-
appeared, (another variant of the legend said that
ranean realms of Turkey. This tree is one of the
Poseidon gave to the inhabitants a white horse
long – lasting trees from the world and its leaves
who came from the sea, this gift being useful to
are green during the entire period of the year. The
people during the wars). Instead, when Athena, the
olive develops very well in areas with mild winters
Goddess, hit the ground with her lance, from that
and torrid summers, on calcareous soils touched
place has appeared an olive tree. Both the people
by the sea breeze. The fruits are bitter and in order
and Zeus were impressed by the occurrence of the
to be consumed, they pass through a fermentation
tree, the first by the agreeable taste and flavor of
process or they are soused. From its fruits the olive
its fruits and Zeus by its beauty and blandness.
oil is produced or as it was called by the Greeks in
Without hesitation, the Supreme legislator and
antiquity “the liquid gold”. In Greece, Rome and An-
leader of Olympus gave the town to Athena, the
cient Egypt, the olive oil was a very important good,
olive branch becoming after this a symbol of peace
used in combination with flowers and plants for
and various virtues, in contrast with the Poseidon’s
manufacturing
beauty
gift used in wars, her gift being subsequently a sign
products, and in its pure form it was used as fuel
unguents,
perfumes,
of acknowledgment offered to the good, strong,
for lamps. The olive oil was known in the Mediter-
courageous and pure ones, to conquerors.
ranean countries as the precious liquid which
offered power and youth. In the world, there are a
The spiritual importance of the olive is found also
lot of olive species under the following denomina-
in the Old Testament or “Genesis” where it is writ-
tions: Olea neriifolia, Olea paniculata, Olea parvil-
ten: “Noah waited another seven days, and again
imba,
he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove
Olea
rosea,
Olea
salicifolia,
Olea
tetragonoclada, Olea tsoongii, Olea undulate, Olea
brachiate, Olea capensis, Olea caudatilimba, Olea
europaea, Olea exasperata, Olea guangxiensis,
Olea hainanensis, Olea laxiflora.
In ancient Greece, it was believed that the olive
was one of the first plants which appeared on
Earth. An old legend said that the olive appeared
together with the foundation of Athens, the Greek
metropolis. Hence, the master of the Olympus
Gods, Zeus, decided to offer a new founded town,
to the God who gave the most important gift to its
inhabitants. The fight for this town was held
between Poseidon, the God of