A Gift from the Gods.
No one truly knows where the olive tree was first born. Many lands have tried to claim it, but its origins are shrouded in mystery and legend. One of the most powerful stories comes from ancient Greece — a tale of gods, a grand contest, and a gift that changed the world forever.
Long ago, the land of Attica was without a ruler. Zeus, the mighty God of the Gods, declared that the land would belong to the deity who could offer the greatest gift to its people. In return, the city would carry the winner's name for all of eternity.
Two mighty gods stepped forward:
Poseidon, God of the sea, wild and fierce.
Athene, Goddess of wisdom, calm and clever.
Then Athene stepped forward. Silent and focused, but with all of her strength, she drove her spear into the Acropolis. From the crack, something extraordinary emerged — a beautifully slender tree, its silver-green leaves shimmering in the sunlight. It was the first olive tree the world had ever seen.
"This tree," Athene declared," will nourish your bodies with its fruit, light your homes with its oil, and heal your wounds with its balm."
Where Poseidon had offered force, Athene had given a gift of life, peace, and endurance.
Zeus was moved and accepted “the gift of oil” on behalf of the people from Athene and from her Athens took its name.
In gratitude, the people of Athens built a magnificent temple to their goddess — the Parthenon — standing tall on the Acropolis where the olive tree still grew. From that day on, the olive tree became sacred — a symbol of health, wealth, and triumph.
And so, “the gift of oil” lived on — not just in legend, but in every olive branch offered in peace, every lamp lit on a dark night, and every meal shared with family, friends and colleagues.