The Olive

A photograph taken by Woodhouse captures a large and very old olive tree in the Greek countryside. A woman stands beside the trunk, showing the size of this tree. Olive trees are hardy and adaptable, often living for hundreds of years. If damaged, the tree is known to reshoot and grow again. Olive trees can survive for hundreds if not thousands of years - Is this restful old olive tree still around today?  And, could this be it?

The sap from the olives was a key source of fuel in antiquity. Ceramic lamps were filled with olive oil, and a simple wick would burn from the nozzle.

Olives and their oil have always been a central facet of the Greek diet. Woodhouse’s photograph shows an unknown village’s produce stall, in front sits a ceramic serving plate from the Late Geometric Period, approximately 2,800 years ago. 

The olive tree was considered sacred in ancient Greece, particularly in Athens as it was associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom and military strategy. It is told she gave the olive tree to the Athenians, planted on the Acropolis to become surrounded by her temple, the Erectheion. Woodhouse’s photo of this temple to Athena Polias (Athena of the City) is paired with a red-figure pelike (jar for liquids) that is decorated with Athena’s sacred owl framed by two olive branches. 

The full archive of historic photographs by William Woodhouse are available online, and are part of an ongoing community project adding new information and data to the collection.