What Does Athena S Olive Tree Represent
Its many uses were a boon to ancient societies and it was regarded as a gift from the gods in many civilizations.
What does athena s olive tree represent. A symbol of pace peace perhaps the most well known symbolic connotation for the olive is peace. She was chosen over poseidon her uncle the god of the sea for her gift the olive branch was considered much more. The olive tree or more specifically an olive branch is a symbol of peace and friendship dating back to ancient greek mythology. A tem ple to athena polias of the city was built c 525bc hous ing a xoanon cult statue inside itself made from olive wood and a precinct cre ated for athena s sacred olive tree.
The olive tree was the symbol of athens the city for which athena was a protector. An evergreen and golden dark green olive leafhas endured the symbol of peace and prosperity. The olive tree is one of athena s symbols. Greek olive leaf meaning.
In ancient greek mythology the goddess athena was associated with the olive tree as she was the one credited with giving it to the greeks. Her symbol was an olive tree because that is what she gave to the greek s in order for athens to be named after her. Poseidon struck his trident on the rock and produced a salt spring. As a result the families who looked to gain fertility in their soils looked to this tree.
It is little wonder why the olive tree is associated with peace. Athena and poseidon were fighting over who got to name the city and a more. Athena of which the name athens comes from was the goddess of the city. According to myth athena achieved this status by winning a contest zeus held between her and poseidon.
According to greek mythology the creation of the olive tree was the result of a contest between athena goddess of wisdom and poseidon god of the sea as to who would become the protector of a newly built city in attica the historical region of greece. Athena was goddess of fertility and as has been previously mentioned her symbol was the olive tree which was one of the trees most cultivated in greece and its fruit fed the hellenes for centuries. Greek olive tree symbolism in greek mythology. Standing on the site of the acropolis the two were asked to offer the people of athens a gift.
But the olive tree on the athen ian acrop o lis held extra impor tance com pared to all oth ers due to its divine prove nance. Atop the acropolis of athens stands an olive tree that is a symbol of hundreds of years of dedication and reverence.