OLIVE MYTHOLOGY

Athena brought the olive to the Greeks as a gift from the heavens. It wasn’t totally altruistic, though. Athena wanted Attica and Zeus promised the Gods he would give Attica to the one who created the most useful invention. No other God’s invention matched up to Athena’s – an invention of peace.

Athena created and planted the olive that was perfect to use for light, heat, food, medicine, and perfume. Athena planted the olive tree on the Acropolis, and supposedly, the tree that grows there today comes from the roots of the first olive tree planted by Athena. Athena's gift of peace is the beginning of the use of olive leaves to symbolize peace.

 

THE GIFT OF THE GODS "I am daughter of the sun... I am the olive tree, the blessed one". K. Palamas