The Olive Tree (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the ancient family Oleaceae which includes lilacs and jasmine. It is drought, disease and fire-resistant, and can live for thousands of years.
The olive tree is grown for olive oil, fine wood, olive leaf, and the olive fruit. It is the oldest cultivated tree in the world. The earliest evidence for the domestication of olives is about 7000 years old and comes from the archaeological site of Teleilat Ghassul in Jordan.
Olive oil was one of the main exports of the ancient city of Ebla in Syria which at the height of its power (c. 2600–2240 bc) dominated northern Syria, Lebanon, and parts of northern Mesopotamia.
The olive tree is one of the plants most often cited in western literature and has served a purpose in many different religions and cultures throughout history. It has been a symbol of peace, life, wisdom, glory and fertility. Its association with peace and victory derive from the customs of Ancient Greece. Olive wreaths were worn by brides and awarded to Olympic victors.
These days olive oil is used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps. Extra virgin olive oil is the most highly regarded of the different types of olive oil. Its fine fruity flavour and aroma make it a valuable ingredient in salad dressings and dips.
Olives are one of the most extensively cultivated fruit crops in the world. They are a naturally bitter fruit which need to be fermented or cured to make them more palatable. The most flavoursome olives are those which have been cured using traditional methods such as soaking them in brine.
An olive tree can be found in the Sensory Gardens next to the arbour and there is an Olive Grove next to the Cenotaph in Victoria Park.
by Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan