For several millennia, the olive branch has carried a very powerful meaning, not only symbolising peace, but victory, fidelity and strength. This very strong symbolism can be traced back to Greek mythology, as well as holy writings such as the Bible and the Koran. Where does the symbol of the olive branch come from and what does it mean?
Table of contents- The olive branch in Greek mythology
- The olive tree in religious writings
- The various meanings of the olive branch
The olive branch in Greek mythology
The symbolism of the olive branch and the olive tree in general is very strongly anchored in our culture and our common history, dating back to Ancient Greek times. In the tales of Greek mythology, the story goes that Poseidon - god of the sea - and Athena - goddess of war - were arguing over the name that should be given to the very first Greek city in history.
Zeus joined the quarrel and decided that the city would be named after the god who could give the Greek city the most precious gift.
Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident and water gushed forth. Legend has it that Athena then struck her spear on the ground and out of the dry, arid, sun-scorched land emerged a strong and immortal tree: an olive tree. So Athena's gift was a tree able to providing the city's people with food and care.
Zeus decided in favour of the goddess, and the Greek city took the name of Athens.
At the same time, the olive tree that sprung forth from so dry and arid a land became associated with qualities of immortality and prosperity as well as strength, victory, wisdom and fidelity. The olive tree's very strong symbolic meaning therefore finds part of its origins in the Greek mythology that has fuelled our collective imagination for thousands of years.
With the olive tree and branch also appearing in other legends from ancient Greece, too. According to Greek mythology, the most powerful weapon wielded by the demi-god Hercules was a club made from the trunk of a wild olive tree. As a result, the olive branch came to symbolise strength, courage, victory and resistance.
We can also see origins of the olive tree's symbolism in Homer's Odyssey, too, since the weapon with which Ulysses managed to burst the eye of the Cyclops was a stake cut from an olive tree. Here again, the olive branch symbolises strength and courage. But patience and fidelity too, since Penelope, Ulysses's wife, slept in a bed carved out of an olive tree.
The olive tree in religious writings
While the olive tree has a consistent presence throughout Greek mythology, it is also featured in the Bible and in the Koran.
In fact, the olive tree is the most mentioned tree in the Bible, in the Old and New Testament alike. In the Old Testament, Noah sent out a dove after the flood to find out if the waters had subsided; it returned from its flight with an olive branch in its beak, a sign of hope, of renewal, but also a sign of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation with God who had punished mankind by causing the deluge.
In the Bible, the Mount of Olives is where Jesus teaches his disciples the Lord's Prayer; a place full of meaning for Christians around the world, who journey there on a pilgrimage.
In the Judaic tradition, olive oil was used for anointing people during holy rites as well as symbolising peace between men, and peace between men and God.
The olive tree and the olive branch are repeatedly mentioned in the Koran, too. The olive tree is considered to be blessed, a symbol of the universal man, and olive oil symbolises the divine light that guides mankind. According to some, Mohammed was heard to have said «Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it is from a blessed tree».
The various meanings of the olive branch
This notable presence of the olive tree in Greek mythology, in the Bible and in the Koran, has deeply rooted this legendary tree in our collective unconscious. So much so that the olive branch is used in many different ways as a result of its many symbols: power, victory, peace, immortality, reconciliation, forgiveness, fidelity, strength, and more.
A symbol of victory, the winners of the first ever Olympic Games in Athens were rewarded with a crown of olive branches 2,500 years ago. This symbolic connection to victory has continued ever since.
A symbol of universal peace, the crown of olive branches circling the globe is featured on the official UN flag.
The olive tree also symbolises eternal life, and the green uniform of members of the French Academy, nicknamed the immortels, owes its name to the green embroideries that represent olive branches.
This symbolism of immortality also dates back to the time of Herodotus, 500 BC. Considered to be the world's very first historian, in one of his stories he explains: «Now this olive-tree had been burnt with the rest of the temple when the barbarians took the place. But when the Athenians, whom the king had commanded to offer sacrifice, went up into the temple for the purpose, they found a fresh shoot, as much as a cubit in length, thrown out from the old trunk.»
There are other very powerful attributes also associated with the olive tree, whose branch is a symbol in itself: peace, of course, but also strength, power, loyalty and courage.
This mythical, mystical tree is symbolic in more ways than one. Planting an olive tree in your garden or in a pot on your balcony will bring your home an air of serenity and inner peace.
