For thousands of years, olive oil has stood at the centre of civilisation. It has been a currency, a medicine, a symbol of purity, and a source of light. Its story moves through civilisations, touching culture, health, beauty, and food in ways both familiar and surprising.
Ancient beginnings
Archaeological findings trace olive oil production back over 6,000 years to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Minoans of Crete cultivated vast groves and built advanced storage systems, treating olive oil as the foundation of trade and prosperity. In Egypt, it was used for both nourishment and ritual: applied to the skin for preservation, woven into perfumes, and offered as tribute. The Phoenicians carried it across the Mediterranean, introducing the olive tree to new territories and shaping commerce for centuries.
The oil of the gods
In Greek mythology, the olive tree was Athena’s gift to Athens, a symbol of wisdom and peace. Olive oil soon became inseparable from Greek life. It flavoured food, fuelled lamps, and formed part of daily beauty rituals. Athletes anointed their bodies with oil before training, then scraped it away with a strigil, a practice believed to purify the body. Olive oil was also used to anoint the dead, linking it to honour and remembrance. Victors at the Olympic Games were crowned with olive wreaths, a mark of divine favour.
Rome and refinement
The Romans expanded cultivation across their empire, introducing terraces and irrigation that transformed production. They developed presses that improved yield, classifying oil by grade: oleum ex albis ulivis, made from unripe olives, was prized for medicinal use, while lower grades lit homes and workshops. Olive oil permeated Roman society, from the grandeur of banquets to the intimacy of the public baths, where it was massaged into the skin before bathing.
Sacred symbolism
Olive oil also carries deep religious significance. In Christianity it is a sign of blessing, consecration, and healing, used in baptisms and anointing rituals. In Judaism, it powered the Temple menorah, central to the story of Hanukkah. In Islam it is celebrated in the Qur’an as a blessed fruit, praised for its nourishment and light. Across faiths, olive oil has been revered as both physical sustenance and spiritual symbol.
Medieval knowledge and beauty
During the Middle Ages, olive oil became a mainstay of medicine and personal care. Physicians recommended it for wounds, digestion, and circulation. Apothecaries infused it with herbs such as rosemary, lavender, and sage to make ointments and balms. In Mediterranean households, it was applied to hair and skin to protect against the sun and dry climate. These practices foreshadowed modern natural skincare traditions.
Â
Renaissance and trade
As global trade expanded, olive oil became a sought-after commodity beyond the Mediterranean. It travelled along merchant routes into Northern Europe, valued by aristocratic kitchens and monasteries. Renaissance scholars also wrote on its virtues, linking it to longevity and balance in the humoral system of medicine.
Modern rediscovery
The industrial era brought cheaper alternatives such as butter and seed oils, which at times eclipsed olive oil. Yet in the 20th century, scientific research revived its standing. Studies of the Mediterranean diet revealed its role in reducing heart disease and supporting longevity. Suddenly, what had been common in Southern Europe became aspirational worldwide. Olive oil entered not only kitchens but also laboratories, where its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were studied in depth.
The kitchen and beyond
Today, olive oil is once again valued for its breadth of use. It nourishes the skin, strengthens hair, and anchors wellness rituals. In gastronomy, it is celebrated for terroir and tasting notes much like wine. Chefs pair particular varieties - Koroneiki, Picual, Frantoio - with foods to highlight complexity and contrast. In beauty, there is a resurgence in using it as a trusted base for cleansers, moisturisers, and treatments, reflecting a return to natural ingredients while bridging the gap between tradition and science.
At Olivetta
We honour this history by curating oils that connect ancient wisdom with modern life. From delicate oils suited to fresh produce, to robust oils that enrich slow-cooked meals, and flavoured oils that inspire creativity, each bottle reflects centuries of knowledge. Paired with our vinegars, they elevate meals and rituals alike. Olive oil remains a life-giving elixir, as vital today as it was to ancient civilisations. It continues to nourish from within and care for the body, enhancing both meals and beauty rituals in equal measure.
