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This is my favorite version of the First Olive Tree in Greek mythology.

"... the creation of the olive tree was a result of a contest held between Athena and Poseidon. Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, held a contest in which the winner would become protector of a newly built city in Attica. The city would be named after the god who gave the citizens the most precious gift. Poseidon struck a rock with his trident and as water began to rush out of the rock, out ran a horse. Next, Athena struck the rock with her spear and the first olive tree appeared at the gates of the Acropolis..."

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"The first Olympic games were held in 776 BC. The olive tree played a crucial role in this event. The first Olympic torch was a burning olive branch. The Olympic winners were awarded with a crown woven from olive branches..."

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• Black olives and green olives are NOT different types of olives. They are at different stages of ripeness.


• Olives that have been picked earlier, such as green olives, yeild less olive oil and taste sharper.


• There are over 262 different olive varieties in Spain. Of those, 24 are used in Olive Oil production.


• Olives are cured 3 different ways: Water Curing, Lye Curing (lye and then a salt brine), and Dry Curing (olives are packed in salt).


• Spain is the world's largest producer of olives and oil. This country has a total of 5.5 million acres of groves dedicated to producing this fruit.


• Italy comes in second in terms of production. That country dedicates 2.8 million acres.


• Greece comes in third with 1.8 million acres.


• The U.S., more specifically California, has just 40 thousand acres.

In Western culture, the olive branch, apart from its literal meaning as a branch of an olive tree, symbolizes peace or goodwill. This meaning is derived from the customs of Ancient Greece, but the original specific link between olive branches and peace is unknown.

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In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, a white dove carrying an olive branch is also a sign for peace. This comes from the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible, in which a dove was released by Noah after the Great Flood in order to find land. The dove came back carrying an olive leaf in its beak, which informed Noah that God had taken mercy on humanity and caused the flood to recede

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Olive branches are used throughout modern and classical works to represent peace. The eagle on the Great Seal of the United States grasps with its right talon an olive branch containing 13 olives and leaves[6], while the flags of many nations and the seal of the United Nations feature olive branches in their design.

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The Benefits of Olive Oil For Your Body

• Olive Oil hydrates dry skin.
  
• Add a few drops to your bath.
  
• Use olive oil instead of shaving cream.
  
• Olive oil is a good substitute for eye make-up remover.
  
• Put a few drops in your ears to soften ear wax.
• Strengthen your nails by soaking them in a dish of olive oil.
  
• Remove the stains in your nails by adding a few drops of lemon juice to the olive oil and soak.
  
• To make your own lip balm, combine olive oil and melted beeswax and pour into a small tin. This is also good as a leather conditioner and wood polish.
  
• A sip of olive oil before you go to sleep stops snoring. It makes the throat slippery. (I'm not sure about this one, but it would be worth a try just to get some sleep!)

• Olive oil is a source of antioxidants.
  
• Has a positive effect on our cholesterol. Keeps cholesterol from sticking to our arteries.
  
• Helps to control blood sugar.
  
• Polyphenols, the substance in olives that give the olive its taste and aroma is believed to help ward off cancer.
  
• Olive oil acts as an anti-inflammatory.
  
• Olive oil is high in dietary fiber, iron and copper

• Olive oil is really a fruit juice (because olives are fruit) so it's very important to remember to keep the oil away from heat and light to prevent it from turning rancid.
  
  
• If your oil tastes like butter then it's probably gone bad.
  
  
• A combination olive oil (a blend of extra virgin and regular olive oil) or a straight olive oil is great for sauteing or frying.
  
  
• Use the olive oil grade "olive oil" for deep-frying because this oil has a higher smoke point (410º F) than virgin or extra virgin oils.

olive in Dutch is Olijf
olive in Italian is Oliva
olive in Finnish is Oliivi
olive in French is Olive
olive in German is Olive
olive in Norwegian is Oliven
olive in Portuguese is Azeitona
olive in Spanish is Aceituna, Oliva

An old Arab riddle go like this:

Our servant is green. Her children are born white and then grow black.
Who is she?

Answer? An olive tree.

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"...the tree that feeds the children."
Sophocles (BC 496-406)

"The only green vegetables I get are Martini olives."
B.F. Pierce (M*A*S*H)

"Except the vine, there is no plant which bears a fruit of as great importance as the olive."
Pliny (AD 23-79)

"... and end thy journey in content, just as an olive falls off when it is ripe, blessing nature who produced it, and thanking the tree on which it grew."
Marcus Aurelius Roman Emperor AD 121-180

"Happiness is.....finding two olives in your martini when you're hungry."
Johnny Carson

"I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand." Yasser Arafat Former Palestinian President Winner of 1994 Nobel Peace Prize