L’olivo (Olea europaea)

The olive tree (Olea europaea) is one of the sacred plants of the Mediterranean area, a symbol of peace and rebirth. The Egyptians regarded it as a gift of fertility and for the Greeks it had a divine origin. In Genesis, the dove returned to Noah with an olive branch in its beak, a sign that peace had returned to the earth. Its name comes from the Greek élaion, meaning oil. In ancient times, the oil was also considered sacred, a mediator of divine light.