The Olive Oil in the Greek culture 

The name Athens also is related to the installation of the olive tree by Athena, in her fight with Poseidon for supremacy in the protection of the city. In order to calm the contest between them, Zeus intervened and stated that he would grant the domain of that territory to whoever was able to provide the most useful gift to humanity. Poseidon took a horse, a resistant, fast and capable animal to lighten the men's work; Athena, on the other hand, appeared with a small branch entwined in her hands, with subtle leaves of silvery green. Poseidon was already savoring the victory when Athena went on to explain the extraordinary properties of olive tree, a strong plant that could live for many years and produce tasty fruits, of which man could extract an ideal liquid for seasoning food (the olive oil), strengthening the body, healing wounds and illuminating the night time. The goddess' victory was crushing. Zeus declared Athena to be the winner, for giving citizens the most useful plant and she was granted sovereignty over the entire region. 

Not only is the olive tree heavily linked with literature and mythology but it was also found in day to day life, the winners of the Olympic games were crowned with a crown woven from olive branches since the seventh Olympics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Greeks used olive oil as a form of nutrition; normally their meals were made up of bread, oil, wine and honey, accompanied at times by cheese, milk, fish and meat. They also employed olive oil as fuel for lighting. Olive oil was used for cosmetics as well and in human or animal medicine to give flexibility and softness to tissues and as a form of preservation for other foods.

 

In classic Greece there are numerous signs that trace back to the olive cultivation and the use of olive oil. The shaking technique was used and scenes of Greek 'shakers' are embodied on decorated amphoraes. For the Greeks, the olive tree was a totem tree, especially for the artisan citizens, given that olive oil was the source of the foundation of the city "polis". 

According to mythology, the art of agriculture was taught to the men by Aristeo, son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene. The cultivation of olive tree was so important that Aristeo also invented systems of extraction for olive oil, among which can be found the mill.