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Olive cultivation started in B.C. 6000 in Anatolia. Homeland of the
olive is South Front Asia and Upper Mesopotamia including Southeast Anatolia
Region. Data relating to the olive cultivation in Anatolia, especially in Adana,
exist in Hittite texts. Olive was cultivated and reclaimed by the Semitic. The
oldest remains in the Near East lead back to the catholic period (B.C.3700 -
B.C.3200) in Israel and Jordan. Information and cultivation of olive agricultire
started to spread from East to West in Mediterranean. First olive oil trade and
then olive cultivation being transfered by seedlings were spread first to Egypt
in south, Cyprus and Crete in west by means of Phoenicians living in Syria and
Lebanon coasts between B.C.2600 and 1600. It spread out to Greece in B.C. 1400 -
1200s via Anatolia and to Libya and Tunusia in North Africa in B.C.700s. And in
the 8th century B.C. it reached to Sicilians, then Romans and to the French and
Spanish.
Centuries later, olive tree crossed the oceans in A.D. 1500 - 1600
and was cultivated by means of spanish explorers and missionaries in North and
South America. In second half of 19th century, seedlings that Italian immigrants
brought along were planted in California, Chili and Argentina. Later again
thanks to Italian, Spanish and Greek origin immigrants, olive grooves were set
up in Australia and South Africa. Olive tree that can be planted and raised in
certain micro-climates even in Japon and China has kepts its Mediterranean
origin.
Olive is symbol of wealth, fame and peace:
It has been
considered as symbol of peace throughtout the history, as a white pigeon with an
olive branch on its mouth as a sign of life came to Prophet Noah's Ark after the
flood. Famous people used to scrub their heads with olive oil and people used to
believe that fortune and wealth came from olive.
Olive has been subject of many legends during its historical
development. The most known of these is the one telling about rise of olive
tree:
In Aancient Greek, Zeus, leader
of gods, announcens that the god or godness giving the most precious gift to the
humankind would be the dynast of the new founded city. Thereupon, Posedion, god
of sea, and Athena, god of peace and wisdom start to conflict. Posedion sticks
his trident in a rock and creates "Horse" that would take people to far places
and win wars. Athena sticks his spear on the ground and turns it into ""Olive
Tree". Towns people decide that this olive tree is the source of a big wealth
and fertility. Aand the city is named after "Athens" for the honor of Athena.
Even today there is an olive tree where the legend is thought to happen. It is
said that all the olive trees and breed from this olive tree created by Athena. |
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