An interesting lil tidbit from 'The History Vault'
(with an added funny)

The history of the olive tree stretches back to the very beginning of recorded time in the Mediterranean. In the book of Genesis, it was a freshly plucked olive leaf that the dove brought back to Noah, signaling that the floodwaters had receded and God had provided a new start for humanity.

By 3000 BC, the people of Crete were cultivating these trees for food and fuel. The Romans later spread them across their entire empire because olive oil was more valuable than gold for lighting lamps, cooking, and medicine. In the Old Testament, holy anointing oil was made from a base of olive oil to consecrate priests and kings for service.

Botanists have studied the ancient trees still standing on the Mount of Olives today. While the trunks have been repaired by nature over time, some of the root systems are believed to be over 2,000 years old. This means they are likely the direct descendants of the very trees that stood during the time of the Apostles.

The key to understanding the final moments of Christ is hidden in the name of a simple fruit. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the word itself comes from the Aramaic Gat Shmane, which means oil press.

This was the place where olives were brought to be crushed under massive stone wheels to produce oil. It was no coincidence that the Savior chose this specific location for His greatest moment of trial.

Just as the olive must be bruised and pressured to release its most valuable gift, the weight of the world was placed upon Him in that very grove. It is a powerful image of sacrifice that has endured for centuries.

Today, the olive tree remains a symbol of resilience and peace across the globe. These trees can live for thousands of years, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.

#History #Faith #AncientTrees #Gethsemane #Heritage