Why Is The Olive Tree Athena S Symbol
So the mortals gave her patronage and the olive tree became one of her symbols.
Why is the olive tree athena s symbol. Also it was well respected and revered as one of two of the most important greek mythical trees along with the oak. Standing on the site of the acropolis the two were asked to offer the people of athens a gift. The olive tree in ancient greek tradition and mythology. It is a gift from godslinked with the renaissance and the light.
The olive tree was the symbol of athens the city for which athena was a protector. 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. It is one of the most well known and often used symbols in greece. Mortals saw her gift was better.
Atop the acropolis of athens stands an olive tree that is a symbol of hundreds of years of dedication and reverence. It is little wonder why the olive tree is associated with peace. Thanks to the olives it served as a source of food and olive oil. When athena and poseidon were competing to be the patron of athens they both had to give one gift.
Olive tree symbolismmeans peace wisdom fertility prosperity immortality and success. Athena made the olive tree and poseidon made a spring. Its many uses were a boon to ancient societies and it was regarded as a gift from the gods in many civilizations. Poseidon gave the city a spring of water and athena.
According to myth athena achieved this status by winning a contest zeus held between her and poseidon. The symbol of athena is an owl or an olive branch. The olive tree was the symbol of the whole mediterranean area during ancient times. Athena and poseidon were fighting over who got to name the city and a more.
Poseidon struck his trident on the rock and produced a salt spring. The owl represents her wisdom and the olive branch represents how she made the olive tree for the people in greece. The owl was thought of as wise. 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.
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. Greek olive tree is one of the oldest symbols of the world inalterable in time and of timeless value. 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.