Little has attracted the attention of the civilized world as much as olive and olive oil. Olive, which dates back to 10 thousand years ago, has been the source of many legends. It was considered sacred by the gods and goddesses of ancient history, from Greek athletes to saints and first physicians. They used their branches, tree and fruit in various ways.
The leaves of the olive tree are symbols of victory, reason and peace. Returning to Noah's ark with an olive branch, the pigeon was counted as a sign that the great flood disaster was over. From baptism ceremonies to oil lamps to traditional and sacred places in many religions, it has an important place in the magnificent religious rituals in the Mediterranean. It is not possible to follow the historical traces of olives in any geography as much as the Mediterranean in terms of mythology and its place in daily life. For example, the history of olives dates back to 4000 years in Greece.
Athena; He competes with the goddess of mind and art, Poseidon, the god of seas. Each is tasked with giving the most precious gift to humanity, by the greatest god Zeus. Poseidon donates a horse. Athena, on the other hand, grows an olive tree at the Aeropolis gate. It is named after the largest city in Greece (as Athens). It is also believed that from that day on, Greeks were born under an olive tree.
Aristotales describes the growing of the olive tree as a science, considering it larger. Homerus, born in İzmir, qualifies olive oil as "liquid gold". Solon makes the first laws to protect the olive tree. Hippocrates recommends olive oil as a healing agent.
It was a very important trade material in ancient Greece and the Roman empire. Private ships were built in the Mediterranean to trade. The belief that olive oil is a source of youth and power was very common. Various medicines and cosmetics were obtained by mixing various flowers and herbs and olive oil in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
B.C. Sports events organized in the ancient city of Pyrenees, which is an extremely important center in the 1000th year, are the most popular activity of the city. It is known that a large amount of olive oil is consumed in sports activities and philanthropic citizens generally donate their aid to the city by donating olive oil. Although it seems strange today; Expressions such as "this person has lubricated citizens for a year" are found in inscriptions.
Ilya, who is a sacred personality for Jews in the myths of "Elijah and Elisa" mentioned in the Bible, makes the food barrels and oil cubes of the poor widows inexhaustible during the famine years. (Kitab-ı Mukaddes "First Kings, 19th Bab).
Death and sleep were known as the children of the black night. "Those who are caught in the hands of death can never escape. It never comes back to entering Hades, falling into that darkness, in other words, encountering death." Hesiodos, a writer who lived in the 6th century.
It was the family's duty and responsibility to prepare the dead for the last trip. If the dead did not have relatives or relatives, one of his close friends would take over. In general, women prepared the deceased for the ceremony. Those who died after death were washed. Because death was believed to pollute everything. After the body of the dead was washed, it was lubricated with olive oil.
In the Hellenistic era, the olive tree was considered sacred, and those who cut the olive tree were sentenced to death or deported.
Olive is also mentioned in the Quran. It is written in the Quran that this olive tree comes from Mount Sinai, oil is extracted from its fruits and this oil is used to flavor the dishes.
Apicis's cookbook, which has survived to the present day, also gives an idea for the use of olive oil in diversity and richness.
Olives in Scriptures
Olive tree is mentioned in all scriptures. While explaining how to prepare baptism oil in the Torah, Hz. The Prophet David likens olives to the right person. Hz. The olive trees from that time still remain in the garden in Zeytindağı, where the Prophet Jesus went to the sky. According to legend, Hz. When the flood of Noah seemed to rest, a white dove would fly from the deck of his ship. This white dove soon returns to the ship with an olive branch in its mouth. Thus, Hz. The Prophet Noah understands that the flood is over and the waters are withdrawn. For this reason, the white pigeon with an olive branch in its mouth has been the symbol of peace throughout the mountains. In the Romans, olive oil was classified into 10 different categories. For example, olive oil from olives that had fallen from the tree was called "cadu-cum", and oils produced from diseased olives used by slaves were called "Cibbarim". Traders set prices accordingly and olive oils loaded into cubes were sent to distant ports by ships. The ancient Greeks and Romans showed love and respect for the olives, but only good and honest people allowed them to pick olives. Not every person could enter olive groves. Olive oil had an important place in the trade of the Cretans in the years before Christ. Structure to put olive oil