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The History and Culture of the Olive

How did the olive tree reach Anatolia, why is the olive branch a symbol of peace, and what place does it hold in religion? The history of the olive from antiquity to today.

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The domestication of the olive tree is one of the oldest chapters in the history of agriculture, reaching back some six thousand years in the eastern Mediterranean. The western shores of Anatolia became one of its most suitable grounds.

This section approaches the history of the olive along three lines: the traces of production in Anatolia, from the stone workshop at Klazomenai to Ottoman groves; the story of how the olive branch became a symbol of peace; and the place of the olive in the three great faiths. It also covers the amphora trade that carried olive oil across the ancient world.

The History of Olive Oil Soap Article The History of Olive Oil Soap From Aleppo to Marseille, Castile to Ayvalık: how olive oil became soap, and how that trade built cities. Ayvalık and Edremit: Turkey's Olive Heartland Article Ayvalık and Edremit: Turkey's Olive Heartland Soap works, oil mills and the population exchange of 1923. How a gulf built its identity on the olive. The Olive Oil Trade in the Ancient World Article The Olive Oil Trade in the Ancient World Amphorae, sea routes and a Roman hill made of broken jars: olive oil was one of the Mediterranean's first large-scale commodities. The Olive in Religion Article The Olive in Religion The tree sworn by in the Qur'an, blended into the holy anointing oil of the Torah, and burned in the lamp. The olive holds a shared place in all three faiths. Why Is the Olive Branch a Symbol of Peace? Article Why Is the Olive Branch a Symbol of Peace? From the dove of the flood narrative to the emblem of the United Nations: how a tree branch has carried the same meaning for thousands of years. The History of the Olive in Anatolia Article The History of the Olive in Anatolia Where did the olive come from, and when was it first cultivated in Anatolia? From the stone workshop at Klazomenai to today's Aegean groves. History of the Olive Article History of the Olive Throughout history, the olive has been far more than a foodstuff. It has served as currency, sacred object, beauty secret and a critical economic engine in the rise of civilisations. History of the Olive Tree Article History of the Olive Tree The olive tree's journey alongside humanity stretches back to prehistoric times. From remains dating to 6000 BC to today's modern plantations, this story is one of humanity's longest-running agricultural adventures.