A Story of the Extra Olive Virgin oil owned by Lazzaretto Muggia Italia

✅ Olive oil is a product with an ancient history, which has played a crucial role in the history of human nutrition, influencing cultures and civilizations for thousands of years.
The first historical traces of olive oil date back to over 6000 years ago in the Eastern Mediterranean. In this area, the ideal climate and soil fertility allowed the prosperity of the olive tree, thus leading to the birth of olive oil in a short time. The oldest olive tree in the world, estimated to be over 3000 years old, is located in Palestine, bearing witness to the ancient roots of this symbol of peace.

The first evidence of olive oil production comes from the region of present-day Syria, where ancient people discovered that it was possible to extract a nutritious and versatile food from olives, consequently beginning to develop methods of oil extraction. With this invention, these societies also began to trade this new product, thereby introducing olive oil to neighbouring cultures.

✅ The history of olive oil and its name
Olive Oil, unlike other vegetable oils, is extracted from a fruit and not a seed. The word “oil” comes from the Arabic “az-zait”, which refer to the juice of olives.
But Homer famously coined the term “liquid gold” to describe Olive Oil thousands of years ago. This oil is a central and distinguishing component of the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest diets around.

The olive oil story began thousands of years ago in the classical era when various Mediterranean civilisations (Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans) began to grow olive trees and extract juice from the olives. But it was in Ancient Greece where the olive tree, its fruit and Olive Oil achieved the importance they enjoy today. It’s no coincidence that these elements appear represented on coins or on tombs as symbols of immortality.

✅ Olive Oil Transport in Antiquity
Amphorae first appeared on the Lebanese-Syrian coast around the 15th century BC and spread around the ancient world, being used by the ancient Greeks and Romans as the principal means for transporting and storing grapes, olive oil, wine, oil, olives, grain, fish, and other commodities. They were produced on an industrial scale from Greek times and used around the Mediterranean until about the 7th century.