The Gift of the Gods
For the ancient Greeks the olive tree was not an ordinary plant but a direct gift of the gods. This belief forms the basis of the sacred value attributed to olive oil.
The Contest of Athena and Poseidon
The most famous myth tells of the contest between the goddess Athena and the sea god Poseidon for patronage of the city of Athens.
- Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and produced a spring of water (a horse in some versions)
- Athena planted an olive tree in the soil
The people found the olive tree — offering light, food, wood and oil — more valuable. So the city took Athena's name: Athens. This myth shows how fundamental the olive was to civilisation.
Sacred Oil
In the ancient world olive oil:
- Fuelled the sacred lamps of temples
- Was rubbed on athletes' bodies
- Crowned Olympic champions with olive-branch wreaths
- Was used to anoint kings and priests
The Continuity of Heritage
This cultural prestige was carried across thousands of years. Even today the olive branch symbolises peace, and olive oil symbolises health and abundance.
From Myth to Table
This golden liquid, once deemed worthy of the gods, is now on every home's table.
Taste this sacred, millennia-old heritage with Europe Olive Oil: 100% natural extra virgin olive oil.