The olive tree as a symbol

© Provided by: Around the World
Since antiquity the olive tree has been a symbol of peace and victory in Greece. These days, the economic well-being of thousands of Greek families has been added to these values. "Around the world" visited the olive plantations of Halkidiki and realized what flows in the veins of the Greeks

"Do you know the story of the goddess Athena and the olive tree she gave the Greeks?" - asks Alex, the maitre d' of the five-star Athena Pallas Village hotel in Halkidiki, as he escorts me, photographer Kostya and interpreter Zhenya, to a local restaurant.

We've heard this ancient Greek myth twice before: in the interpretation of a Russian-speaking cab driver on the way from the airport, and from a talkative salesman in a store where we stopped to buy water. We nod intensely, but Alex, paying no attention to this, inspirationally continues: "According to legend, Athena had a territorial dispute with Poseidon, with humans as judges. The gods "measured" their gifts. The water which Poseidon "promoted" was salty and unsuitable for drinking, but the olive tree, a gift from Athens, was very much to the Greeks' liking.

What does the olive tree mean?

The olive is the most important tree in the Mediterranean culture, a faithful and respected companion of man since ancient times. And since ancient times, its meaning has not changed - everywhere olive means peace, prosperity and tranquility, despite the fact that the world is changing very quickly and not calm.

Olive - the symbol of peace in the world

Olive, olive, olive! The olive Tree, the symbol of peace in the world, The olive tree is the symbol of peace in the world.
Of course, there's some malaise In the world, And I hear noises on the air, As if twigs were breaking.
O the rustling of the blooming olive tree! With it full, now less often, And that wheezing, singing, muttering, whistling box.
And people almost don't breathe, At the box at night they sit, And hear, of course, they hear, The olive's enchanting rustle.
(Leonid Martynov)

Who is suitable for such a tattoo?

The olive branch is a classic symbol of reconciliation, so some people use it to show that they are the kind of person who leaves the past behind and gets on with their lives. You can also get one of these tattoos if you used to let things get to you, but now decide to let things go a little easier.

You can look down at your Olive Branch tattoo and remind yourself that you shouldn't let small things ruin your days.

Likewise, the Olive Branch tattoo can also represent peace in its many forms. If you want more world peace, this is a great tattoo to get.

The Olive Branch is also a great design for people who have lived chaotic lives and are determined to bring more peace to their worlds. Again, you don't need to add any other peace symbols, but you can do so if that is your main tattoo.

People who feel they have good instincts or can clearly see the difference between right and wrong may be perfect for the Olive Branch tattoo. In fact, if this is one of your favorite personal qualities, this is probably the best tattoo for you, as there really aren't many other symbols or images that represent these things.

There are many symbols of purity and chastity, but the Olive Branch gives people a unique way to show their pride in these qualities. It is often implied as a personal meaning, so we only recommend getting an Olive Branch tattoo on a visible part of your body with this meaning if you also use other meanings.

Of course, if you are very proud of these meanings, there is absolutely nothing wrong with showing that pride by placing your Olive Branch design on your arm or elsewhere for all to see.

Such a tattoo may not seem very meaningful at first glance, but it can help someone strengthen the best features of their character, as well as give confidence.

The olive tree as a symbol of peace

As already mentioned, in different cultures the olive tree is highly revered and is a symbol of peace, reconciliation, the end of war, prosperity, a joyful serene life.

On the meaning of the olive as a bearer of peace is indicated by the legend of ancient Greece, according to which in a duel between Poseidon and Athena for power over the central part of Greece Attica, Athena - goddess of war, but the wise, presenting people the gift of an olive tree. Poseidon struck the rock with his trident and the salt water gushed out. Athena thrust her spear into the earth, and out of the spear sprouted an olive tree. The people chose the gift of Athena instead of the olive tree over the salt water spring that Poseidon had provided. To Poseidon, however, Athena offered a branch of the olive tree as a sign of reconciliation, and peace was restored.

We owe the appearance of the olive tree to the Greek goddess Athena. The Old Olive Tree by Elidon Hoxha

Over time, a law was issued in Hellas forbidding the cutting down of olive trees. The olive grove of Olympus was considered untouchable even when wars were fought. Also the wars were stopped for the period of the Olympic Games and the heads of the victorious competitors were crowned with wreaths of olive branches.

Thus, since antiquity there has been a strong association of olive branches and the tree itself with peace and the absence of war. The expression "to extend a branch of peace" referred specifically to an olive or palm branch. Warring parties brought an olive branch as a symbol of peace during parliamentary negotiations.

Olive branch of peace

Modern peace organizations very often resort to the symbolism of the olive branch in their emblems.

The branches of the family tree

On the façade of the Olives Chliapa building hangs a huge banner that catches the eye from afar. The banner depicts two men: a young man smiling broadly and respectfully embracing an older man. The photo is clearly from a family archive.

At the office of the company, we are greeted by its owner, forty-year-old Stefan. In him, I easily recognize the young man from the banner: he is slightly older and healthier, but his smile is the same. The family photo is also on the product samples on the shelves in the office, along with numerous quality certificates and awards. "Is the father next to you?" - "Yes, and the founder of the business. It all started with a few trees. Dad spent years collecting ancient Greek recipes for cooking olives - smoking, baking. He was looking for the best ways to grow the crop in the northeast. At some point he realized that his accumulated knowledge was enough to get into this business seriously, professionally. That's how our family company came into being. Seven years ago, Dad passed away, and I took over the business.

Olives Chliapa now owns about 400 hectares of land with 6,500 olive trees. "Wow, that's a lot!" - I wonder. "What do you say," Stefan objects, "that's about one-tenth of one percent of the total number of trees in Halkidiki, and there are supposedly 125 million in all of Greece.

The competition in this business is serious. In Halkidiki, there are 120 olive growers on the peninsula. 80 percent of the fruits are picked here in green from mid-September. From the second half of October to early December, as they ripen, they are black. Stefan delivers the bulk of production in the form of processed and salted raw materials to large enterprises. About 15-20 percent is packed with spices for sale to the locals. He uses oregano, coriander, dill, rosemary, bay leaf, thyme, and basil as additives.

Olive production is the work of several generations. Stephan has two sons. "The olive in our family is like a family tree, symbolizing the bond between my father, me and my children," he says. - In Greece, respect for it has been instilled since childhood. There's still the tradition of planting an olive tree after the birth of a child.

Stefan is an economist by training. "But I like it better here than anywhere else in the office. - He holds out to me the gloves with which they harvest, saying, 'I wanted to try it myself. - It's not just a job, it's my heritage and my vocation.

Operation Olive Branch

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1 of 4 SLIDES © Provided by: Around the World

The water that Poseidon "promoted" turned out to be salty, but the olive tree, a gift from Athena, was very much to the Greeks' liking...

2 of 4 SLIDES © Provided by: Around the World

Greece has a law that requires a permit even to transplant an olive tree, let alone remove it

3 of 4 SLIDES © Provided by: Around the World

In the country, the fruit is still harvested by grandfather's method. The green ones are picked by hand, while the black ones are shaken off on a tent under a tree.

4 of 4 slides © Provided by: Around the World

In Greece, respect for the olive tree has been instilled since childhood. The tradition of planting an olive tree after the birth of a child

4 of 4 SLIDES

In the country, the fruits are still harvested by grandfather's method, without any sign of mechanization. The greens are picked by hand, while the more delicate black ones are shaken off the branches onto a tent spread out under the tree.

Symbolism of the olive tree in Christianity

The dove with an olive branch is a messenger of better life.

In Christian tradition, the olive tree is not only a symbol of peace, but also of hope, faith, good news, forgiveness, and God's love for man, as well as strength of spirit.

According to biblical accounts, at the time of the Flood, the white dove he had released returned to Noah and brought an olive branch in its beak, which heralded the retreat of the water, and that people would soon be able to feel the solid ground beneath their feet again.

So the olive was a symbol of reconciliation between God and man, and the people were given the indulgence of God and the hope for better times.

The olive in Christianity represents the fruit of the church and righteousness, the virtuous man who believes in God and justice.

"But I am like a verdant olive tree in the house of God, and I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever." (Psalm 51:10)
"Your wife is like a fruitful vine in your house; your sons are like olive branches around your meal."(Psalm 127:3)
"His branches shall be expanded,-and his beauty shall be as an olive tree, and a fragrance from him as from Lebanon." (Hosea 14:7)

Since olive oil was the basis of the oil used by believers for various sacraments and ceremonies, the olive symbolizes initiation, anointing for kingship or ordination, confirmation of dignity.

The anointing for the kingdom of David. Artist Ian Wiktorz

The word "anointing" comes from the words "oil" and "anoint." In turn, "oil" correlates with the word "olei," that is, "olive."

In the Old Testament, the composition of oil is quite clearly defined:

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take unto thee a most sweet spices, five hundred cubits of smyrna, two hundred and fifty cubits of cinnamon, two hundred and fifty cubits of sweet spices, two hundred and fifty cubits of cassia, a cubit each, and a grain of olive oil; and make the holy anointing oil thereof, a compound oil, by the art of the composing oil: this shall be the holy anointing oil.
(Exodus 30:22-25)

The angel with the branch of the olive tree. Hans Memling.

Oil and olive oil were so important in initiation ceremonies that in one vision of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, the two olive trees surrounding the menorah represent the high priest and the king, the anointed ones to perfection. Thus, the olive oil contains the essence of holiness; it is a kind of divine sign that accompanies all people whom God loves.

The Root Tooth.

We enter the courtyard of the hotel where the restaurant is located. The first thing that catches our eye is an ugly, encrusted, half-dead tree. The wide trunk, which three of us together with the photographer and the interpreter could hardly embrace by holding hands, stands out unfavorably against the background of the five-star lavishness. Moreover, the stone terrace built next to the "phytodinosaurus" makes a polite arc at its roots, as if bypassing it. That is, the builders, instead of uprooting the monster, for some reason made it the center of the architectural composition.

"It's certainly not the same gift from Athens," Alex pronounces, gently touching the bark that runs down in streams of frozen lava, "but this olive tree is, by my reckoning, a thousand years old.

Meanwhile, waiters put out appetizers: Greek salad, zazziki, saganaki, spanakopita, and, of course, olives. Large, fleshy, regular oval shapes. "These are local, Chalkidiki," Alex says, literally glowing with pride. - But, for example, almond-shaped fruits are collected in the Peloponnese region, oblong - in Kalamata. Small olives grow on Corfu. They are mainly used for the production of oil..."

However, I am more interested in the logic of the designer who, instead of removing the dead tooth, allowed it to dominate the patio. It turns out that there is a law in Greece that requires a special permit even to transplant an olive tree, let alone remove it. "But understand, the respect for the olive tree is not due to the letter of the law, it comes primarily from the people," Alex explains, clearly hurt by my remark about the mastodon in the yard. - Greeks do have a reason to be grateful to the olive tree from the dawn of time. The oil was used for food and burned in lamps, the wood was used for construction and cooking utensils. And in the shade of the olive tree one could always find refreshment on a hot summer day.

Our specimen, unfortunately, no longer copes with this function. "How long can this venerable tree still stand here?" - I ask, chewing on the juicy, slightly bitter flesh of the olives. "With proper care, it will live another five hundred years. But it will not bear fruit. After all, an olive tree bears fruit only for the first hundred years of its life.

Other meanings of the olive tree

The olive tree as a symbol of abundance and fertility

The olive, its fruit, and the oil that comes from it have always been important to human life.

The olive's ability to bear many fruits and to bear fruit for hundreds of years has endowed it with the symbolism of abundance, generosity, wealth and prosperity.

A bountiful harvest of olives.

Meaning of the tattoo of an olive branch

the aspiration for peace, a symbol of reconciliation of the warring parties in all military conflicts in the history of mankind.
embodiment of immortality and fertility
renewal of life,
symbol of good news
desire to find peace, tranquility in our troubled times
steadfastness in all trials
refinement as a character trait
desire to live a righteous life
Fertility and abundance in wedding ceremonies (like the Frog tattoo).

The olive tree is a symbol of fortitude and immortality.

Olive trees are capable of living for many years. 300-500 years is the average life span of an olive tree. The olive trees from the grove of the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, where Christ spent the night in desperate prayer on the eve of his arrest, are said to be about 2,000 years old.

The olive tree is a symbol of endurance and resilience

The olive tree can grow both in the ground and on the rock because of its very strong and branched root system, which exceeds several times the projection of the crown, while the average depth of the roots is only 80 cm.

The shape of the leaves of the olive tree can easily withstand the strong heat.

The tree is able to withstand severe drought, thanks to a slightly curved leaf shape at the edges. In addition, nature endowed the olive with the ability to place the leaves vertically on the branches during the day, which allows them to save from sunburn and retain moisture.

The meaning of tattoos for men

The general meaning of tattoos with the image of branches is the same for both sexes. The only difference is in the choice of trees. Young men most often choose plants that represent strength: laurel, oak, maple.

The sprout of the laurel tree symbolizes achieving goals, perseverance, and self-confidence. This pattern is suitable for men who are used to winning.

The oak branch speaks of indestructibility, fearlessness and majesty. Young men with such a tattoo are confident in themselves, have wisdom, physical and moral strength.

Escape maple shows ambitiousness, vitality and high morality. A man with such a tattoo has flexible thinking and the ability to see the world from different perspectives. Maple earrings in the drawing represent new ideas.

The olive tree is a symbol of wisdom

The olive tree appeared on earth thanks to the Greek goddess Athena Pallada and is dedicated to her. And Athena (Minerva in Roman mythology) is the goddess of wisdom.

The symbolism of peace and tranquility inherent in the olive, in turn, leads to the fact that the result of a balanced state is wisdom, which is not possible in an upset feelings and disturbed mind. At the same time, wisdom itself brings peace and tranquility to the soul. A wise person does not fuss, does not make hasty decisions, does not argue over nothing. Such a positive vicious circle is formed.

The olive is a symbol of wisdom and is dedicated to Athena. Landscape with an olive tree, by Elidon Hoxha

Tattooed branch: meaning

A flowering branch with green leaves symbolizes solar energy as a source of life on earth. Such a tattoo speaks of faith in the future, positive perception of reality and the ability to cope with difficulties.

A branch on which the buds are just beginning to blossom, said that the man is open to the unknown, has a flexible way of thinking and is receptive to new ideas.

Coniferous branch represents eternity of the universe, immortality and the cycle of life. A tattoo with this image will suit people inclined to a philosophical perception of reality.

A spring sprig with growing leaves symbolizes eternal youth and love. The motif is associated with romantic, dreamy characters, who always have "spring in their hearts. The fruits on the plant represent new ideas and creativity.

A bird perched on a branch implies that the person has found his place in life, and no longer seeks to "fly. The soaring bird represents freedom and an easy perception of reality. A person with such a tattoo does not like restrictions, and it is difficult to be in a long relationship with a partner.

Autumn branch with colorful leaves symbolizes pleasant memories of the past and the transition to a new stage of life. Falling leaves represent people longing for better times. If the plant is withered, it indicates that the person has lost faith in a brighter future.

A winter twig against a background of falling snow represents warmth and home comfort. If the shoot is covered with frost - a person is in anticipation of vital news.

The olive is a symbol of victory.

As a symbol of peace, the olive also symbolizes victory. This is due to the fact that the subjugated peoples of Rome went to the emperor and carried olive branches as a sign of cessation of resistance. This is perhaps the only negative connotation in the symbolism of the olive tree.

As a positive symbol of victory, the olive tree is associated with victory in sport, as mentioned above, during the ancient Olympic games, when a wreath of olive branches was placed on the head of the winner.

In the context of victory, the olive also symbolizes reward, pride, honor and justice.

Rewarding the winner with an olive wreath. Painting on a Greek vase.

Tattoo ideas and subjects

This is a small tattoo. So you can place it on different parts of your body. It is also very unusual to add any other elements to the image. The most beautiful examples are one or two crossed branches with leaves and a few olives on them. You will see that most of the ideas are in black and gray tones, which gives them even more sophistication and simplicity.

As for the design, you will have to choose between having a lot of leaves on your Olive Branch tattoo or just a couple. You will also have to decide whether you want your Olive Branch to be the main subject of the design or just one small element of a larger piece.

Meaning of tattoos for girls

Tattoos with twigs have an incredible popularity among the fair sex. Unlike men, girls choose quieter and more elegant trees: sakura, willow, lilac and birch.

The sakura is an unusually graceful Japanese tree with beautiful pink leaves. Tattoo with a cherry tree branch symbolizes sophistication, taste and delicacy. Girls with such a body image are sensitive and romantic natures. Also a cherry branch can speak of great love and passionate feelings.

A birch branch symbolizes tranquility, purity of thought and a simple disposition. The owner of the tattoo with such a picture value close relationships, value friendship, know how to love and wait.

A girl whose body is marked willow branch, has a melancholic nature, inclined to be sad and to remember the past. Also, the tattoo can mean a difficult parting with a loved one.

The branch of lilacs symbolizes youth, prosperity and faith in a bright future. If a girl gets a tattoo with a white lilac shoots, it means she found her one and only beloved, who will remain faithful for life. A branch with pink flowers indicates dreaminess and a tendency to love ventures.