According to Greek mythology, the goddess Athena, to win the favor of the inhabitants of the area later named, give them as a gift the olive tree. In this way succeeds to defeat even the God of the sea, Poseidon. The city called Athens and the goddess Athena is that it protects.
Tree resides in the Mediterranean over 6000 years. Originally from Asia Minor and spread from Iran, Syria and Palestine to the rest of the Mediterranean. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, which is before the discovery of writing. Cultivated in Crete 3,000 years ago and was probably the source of wealth of the Minoan civilization. The Phoenicians spread the cultivation of olives in the Mediterranean coasts of Africa and South Europe .Also olive fruits have been found in Egyptian tombs dating from 2000 BC the cultivation of the olive spread to the Greeks and later the Romans.
The use of olive oil is known in many religions and cultures. Often used during religious ceremonies, such as in the sacrament of baptism. During the Spanish conquest, missionaries brought the vine and the olive tree in California for food but also for ceremonial use. Olive oil was also used to Christ the new kings of the Greeks and the Jews. Also, the Greeks crowned of race winners with olive branches. Finally, the oil used to be sprinkled the dead in many cultures. Olive trees in the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, it is estimated that there are more than 2000 years. However, do not know the variety of trees in this grove.
The olive tree has grown so much by man over the years, so it is difficult to determine the development of varieties and olive clones. In past centuries, olive cultivation has spread in North and South America, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.