The Olive Tree

"OLEA PRIMA OMNIUM ARBORUM EST."  The olive tree is the first of all trees

The immortal tree

The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean and has been intertwined with human history for thousands of years. This evergreen tree grows slowly but lives exceptionally long. Some specimens are over three thousand years old. That's why it's often called the "immortal tree." 

A source of peace and health

The olive tree is not just a tree with olives and leaves, but also a powerful symbol. In the Bible, the dove returns to Noah's ark after the flood with an olive branch. Since then, the olive branch has symbolized peace and hope. But the tree offers more than just symbolism: it is a source of nourishment, well-being, and medicinal properties. The olive tree has been valued for over six thousand years for its nutritional value and health benefits.

The oldest traces of olive cultivation have been found on the border between Syria and Turkey. The tree spread throughout the Mediterranean via trade routes. By 3000 BC, olive oil was already being produced and traded on a large scale, including in ancient Egypt and northern Syria.

From myth to medical application

According to Greek mythology, the goddess Athena gave humanity the first olive tree. Her gift provided food, fuel, nourishment, and symbolized peace. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed olive oil for wounds, skin problems, and digestive complaints. His medical writings detail over sixty uses for olive oil.

Aristotle considered uprooting an olive tree so serious that he believed it deserved the same punishment as killing a human being. In Islam, the olive tree is also considered blessed. The Prophet Muhammad urged his followers to nourish themselves with olive oil.

A tree full of applications

Throughout the centuries, olive oil has been used as food, ointment, beauty product, and medicine. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, many olive groves fell victim to neglect and logging. The monastery and its monks, in particular, ensure that within the walls

the different olive varieties of the monasteries and abbeys were preserved.

To this day, scientists are discovering new health benefits from the olive tree. They began their research because the Mediterranean diet, which includes olive oil, has been shown to extend lifespan.

Not only the oil, but also the leaves and fruit contain substances that support and protect our bodies. From heart health to skin care: the olive tree remains a source of natural energy.