- An olive tree in the Cilento region.
This tree was planted before the nation of Italy was born, when the Italian south was a kingdom apart. It could well have been producing olives when Naples was at the height of glory, one of the leading cities on the continent, and a must-see stop on the Grand Tour of the eighteenth century.
The olive is mentioned in ancient literature, including thirty times in the Bible. Its oil fueled the original Olympic flame. Kings were anointed with olive oil, and it is still used in religious ceremonies.
Theophrastus, a student of both Plato and Aristotle, wrote about olive husbandry. “The olive tree grows, one may say, in more ways than any other plant; it grows from a piece of the trunk or of the stock, from the root, from a twig, and from a stake…” He warns that olives grown from seed produce a wild olive, of poor quality. He also quotes Androtion in saying that olives require heavy pruning for the best production, and also need “the most pungent manure and the heaviest watering.” He describes the damage they suffer from hot winds or freezing temperatures. Though he wrote this in Greece in the third century B.C., these classical methods were carried into the Magna Graecia and applied to olive culture there.
I find fascinating the common knowledge of the natural world in earlier times. A statement of Theophrastus illustrates this, in regards to the summer solstice. How do I know when the solstice is? I check a calender, reference book, or (more likely) find it online. But two thousand years ago, people checked their olive trees for that information: “There is a peculiarity special to the olive, lime, elm, and abele: their leaves appear to invert the upper surface after the summer solstice, and by this men know that the solstice is past.”
In Roman times, a garden was not considered complete without some olive trees, and olive oil served as liquid money. It is still highly prized, with Italy consuming about 30% of the world’s olive oil, most of which is grown in the Mediterranean region.
Next time you break open a rustic loaf of bread, pour a little olive oil in a dish, add some balsamic vinegar, and think about the ancient origins of your small feast as you enjoy it.
The Italian South 
When I have an excellent Olive Oil, I want to TASTE IT and keep the piecre simple!Pasta, Fresh tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Fresh Garlic, S&P, and PLENTY of wonderful Olive Oil. Simply slather up some good bread with Olive Oil, S&P, Shredded Parmesan and toast in oven.
thanks.very good blog and very good share.
Had a feast like this on Friday. but I wasn’t thinking about ancient origins, rather how good the wine tasted with the bread and olive oil. :)
Yes, Dyana, in a case like that, the present trumps history! I’m glad you are enjoying the blog. (Just think how much more you would enjoy the REAL Italian south.)
I like!! we have a very similar tree as well! All the family tends to treasure it, but we don’t know yet how ancient it is :)
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