Olive oil myths and facts

What about olive oil myths and facts ?

Mythology has a huge effect on our lives and beliefs. It taught us about the secrets of the universe, the cycle of life, fate, and much of our day-to-day discoveries. Mythology was the first source of knowledge for mankind and is still teaching us a lot about the yet unearthed mysteries of the universe and existence.

Mythology has also taught us about the usefulness of different items. Olive oil enjoys high regard and much respect. This started as a result of the uncovered myths of olive oil and its wonders.

Surprisingly, with the advance of science and technology, the olive oil myths have turned into facts. So, let’s take a look at the world of olive oil.

The mythology olive oil enjoys:

Invented by the goddess Athena, as the story goes, the olive tree has been rooted deeply in Greek mythology. Aristaeus, a minor Greek god, is said to harness the wild oleaster in order to make it bear olives and then to process them into olive oil. He is the patron and protector of olive trees, plantations, and olive oil.

The olive tree resulted from a contest between Poseidon and Athena. The goddess of wisdom offered the people of ancient Greece the most divine, useful, and precious gift. The olive tree sprang from a rock as a symbol of fruitfulness and peace.

Later, the tree gained even more respect and appreciation. It became a living legend. It was said that if you polished a statue of Zeus with olive oil, he would grant you a happy and prosperous life.

The Olympic Games in Greece were an opportunity to reveal the high status of olives. Athletes were massaged with olive oil as people believed that the wisdom and strength of Athena would be passed down to the athletes. The winners were crowned with olive branches.

The tales also report Hercules using olive branches and olive oil to defeat his enemies during the journey of his twelve labors. Hence, olives have been linked to strength and resistance. After all, the tree does tolerate harsh climate and survive dry soils.

The mythology olive oil is bestowed with stretches to miracles on the body and soul. The most common olive oil myths are shared by all civilizations and cultures. A tradition of anointing kings and statues of gods with this oil dates back to the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations.

Religion too does glorify this golden liquid. Olive oil is one of the four sacred elements in Christianity along with bread, wine, and water. It has been used to anoint priests and later kings and monarchs, especially in France.

Christian Catacombs possessed remains of burnt olive oil used in the burring traditions. It was considered as a relic and collected to be preserved as sacred elements from those martyrs. Evidence is found in the Monza Cathedral in Italy.

The Miracle of Calanda reveals the huge value given to this liquid and the blind belief in its healing powers. Michael Pellicer, the protagonist of the legend, kept anointing his amputated leg with sacred oil from the lamps of the Temple of Pilar in Zaragoza for two years. Finally, the Virgin Pilar restored his leg.

Olive oil is part and partial of sacraments in Christianity. It is used to make three types of sacred oils, oil for the sick, oil for the catechumens, and the holy chrism.

One more piece of evidence for the importance of this liquid is revealed in Leviticus (24:2-4): “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.” It symbolizes light in the darkness and a guiding path for the believers towards eternal light.

The real olive tree origin

The history olive oil enjoys is quite impressive. Legend might have been mixed with facts, but it is clear that the workings of this fluid are not simply magic or make-belief.

Olive oil was extracted by people on both shores of the Mediterranean throughout history. That’s why it is still tightly linked to the Mediterranean culinary traditions even today.

The legend tells of Athena inventing the tree while the true olive tree origins have been traced to Crete. It makes you think about how much is true in every legend and myth, right?

The tree must have been transplanted on the shores of the Mediterranean and later transformed to the rest of the world. Though, even today, Mediterranean countries are the biggest producers and exporters of olive oil. The culture of planting olive trees and extracting oil is deeply rooted in the makeup of these people. Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Spain, Italy, and a few others have

Today, olive oil is being used in medicines and all culinary practices. The myths have been turned into facts. This oil is extraordinarily beneficial for the body. It is used to treat different conditions. It is also one of the main pillars of the Mediterranean diet, a regimen that has been associated with lesser mortality rates and great potential in treating chronic disease