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69-530: The significant Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cycladic culture is best known for its schematic, flat sculptures carved out of the islands' pure white marble centuries before the great Middle Bronze Age Minoan civilization arose in Crete to the south. (These figures have been looted from burials to satisfy a thriving Cycladic antiquities market since the early 20th century.) A distinctive Neolithic culture amalgamating Anatolian and mainland Greek elements arose in

138-463: A fuel in oil lamps , soap-making , and skincare application. The Spartans and other Greeks used oil to rub themselves while exercising in the gymnasia . From its beginnings early in the 7th century BC, the cosmetic use of olive oil quickly spread to all of the Hellenic city-states, together with athletes training in the nude, and lasted close to a thousand years despite its great expense. Olive oil

207-462: A brisk trade in forgeries arose. The context for many of these Cycladic figurines has thus been mostly destroyed; their meaning may never be completely understood as a result. It has been suggested that around 90% of the figures we know of were looted or removed from their original locations in a unscientific manner, resulting in the loss of context with which to build a proper historical narrative. Between 2009 and 2010, scholars were able to meet with

276-402: A drought during the flowering phase, for example, can result in a lower quality (virgin) oil. Olive trees produce well every couple of years, so greater harvests occur in alternate years (the year in-between is when the tree yields less). However the quality is still dependent on the weather. In the ancient Levant , three methods were used to produce different grades of olive oil. The finest oil

345-536: A high smoke point, and consequently is widely used in restaurants as well as home cooking in some countries. The United States is not a member of the IOC and does not implement its grades, but on October 25, 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established Standards for Grades of Olive Oil and Olive-Pomace Oil which closely parallel the IOC standards: These grades are voluntary. Certification

414-401: A large part of the artifacts we have, especially in context, from Cycladic culture. Pottery has played a large role in sectioning Cycladic chronology into different periods. This is due to shifts in style and materials over time. Pottery was also hugely important to Cycladic culture in the context of their maritime activities. Evidence suggests that pottery was a primary good traded to and from

483-426: A man they simply identified as "the forger", and obtained inside information about the illicit process of funneling artifacts and forgeries to collectors, as well as how these forgeries were being produced. This has helped archaeologists and scholars to properly identify forgeries with more accuracy, as well as to trace certain artifacts back to their original locations more accurately. Olive oil Olive oil

552-442: A ship, which is indicative of the importance of seafaring to Cycladic peoples. This also gives us a good idea of how Cycladic ships would have been constructed. There were likely two kinds of ships, a small boat meant to be managed by one person or a very small crew, and a longboat that could support a crew of at least twenty five people. Studies of Cycladic culture have faced significant difficulties due to artifact looting . Since

621-428: A small addition of virgin for taste. Olive pomace oil is refined pomace olive oil, often blended with some virgin oil. It is fit for consumption, but may not be described simply as olive oil . It has a more neutral flavor than pure or virgin olive oil, making it less desirable to users concerned with flavor; however, it has the same fat composition as regular olive oil, giving it the same health benefits. It also has

690-571: A tomb on the island of Naxos in the Aegean Sea . Sinuhe , the Egyptian exile who lived in northern Canaan c.1960 BC, wrote of abundant olive trees. The Minoans used olive oil in religious ceremonies. The oil became a principal product of the Minoan civilization , where it is thought to have represented wealth. Olive oil was also a major export of Mycenaean Greece (c. 1450–1150 BC). Scholars believe

759-425: A votive glass filled with olive oil, floating on a half-inch of water. The glass has a metal holder that hangs from a bracket on the wall or sits on a table. A cork float with a lit wick floats on the oil. To douse the flame, the float is carefully pressed down into the oil. Makeshift oil lamps can easily be made by soaking a ball of cotton in olive oil and forming it into a peak. The peak is lit and then burns until all

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828-540: Is consecrated by bishops as sacred chrism , which is used to confer the sacrament of confirmation (as a symbol of the strengthening of the Holy Spirit), in the rites of baptism and the ordination of priests and bishops, in the consecration of altars and churches , and, traditionally, in the anointing of monarchs at their coronation . Eastern Orthodox Christians still use oil lamps in their churches, home prayer corners, and cemeteries. A vigil lamp consists of

897-486: Is a liquid fat obtained by pressing whole olives , the fruit of Olea europaea , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin , and extracting the oil. It is commonly used in cooking for frying foods, as a condiment, or as a salad dressing . It can also be found in some cosmetics , pharmaceuticals , soaps , and fuels for traditional oil lamps . It also has additional uses in some religions. The olive

966-423: Is an intergovernmental organisation of states that produce olives or products derived from olives, such as olive oil. The IOC officially governs 95% of international production and holds great influence over the rest. The EU regulates the use of different protected designation of origin labels for olive oils. The United States is not a member of the IOC and is not subject to its authority, but on October 25, 2010,

1035-519: Is called "virgin oil" in English. The remaining semi-solid waste, called pomace , retains a small quantity (about 5–10%) of oil that cannot be extracted by further pressing, but only with chemical solvents. This is done in specialized chemical plants, not in the oil mills. The resulting oil is named pomace oil . Handling of olive waste is an environmental challenge because the wastewater , which amounts to millions of tons (billions of liters) annually in

1104-847: Is known as the Helladic period . In recent decades the Cyclades have become popular with European and other tourists, and as a result there have been problems with erosion , pollution, and water shortages. The Cyclades includes about 220 islands, the major ones being Amorgos , Anafi , Andros , Antiparos , Delos , Ios , Kea , Kimolos , Kythnos , Milos , Mykonos , Naxos , Paros , Folegandros , Serifos , Sifnos , Sikinos , Syros , Tinos , and Thira or Santoríni . There are also many minor islands (the Lesser Cyclades ) including Donousa , Eschati , Gyaros , Irakleia , Koufonisia , Makronisos , Rineia , and Schoinousa . The name "Cyclades" refers to

1173-420: Is not chemical acidity in the sense of pH , but the percent (measured by weight) of free oleic acid . Measured by quantitative analysis , acidity is a measure of the hydrolysis of the oil's triglycerides: as the oil degrades, more fatty acids are freed from the glycerides , increasing the level of free acidity and thereby increasing hydrolytic rancidity . Another measure of the oil's chemical degradation

1242-766: Is one of three core food plants in Mediterranean cuisine , together with wheat and grapes. Olive trees have been cultivated around the Mediterranean since the 8th millennium BC. Spain is the world's largest producer, manufacturing almost half of the world's olive oil. Other large producers are Italy, Greece, Portugal, Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco. The composition of olive oil varies with the cultivar , altitude, time of harvest, and extraction process. It consists mainly of oleic acid (up to 83%), with smaller amounts of other fatty acids including linoleic acid (up to 21%) and palmitic acid (up to 20%). Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1311-486: Is required to have no more than 0.8% free acidity , and is considered to have favorable flavor characteristics. Olive oil has long been a common ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine , including ancient Greek and Roman cuisine . Wild olives, which originated in Asia Minor , were collected by Neolithic people as early as the 8th millennium BC. Besides food, olive oil has been used for religious rituals , medicines , as

1380-447: Is taken to make sure the olives are perfectly ripe. The process is generally as follows: The oil produced by only physical (mechanical) means as described above is called virgin oil. Extra virgin olive oil is virgin olive oil that satisfies specific high chemical and organoleptic criteria (low free acidity, no or very little organoleptic defects). A higher grade extra virgin olive oil is mostly dependent on favourable weather conditions;

1449-465: Is that of the Cycladic frying pans . More accurate archaeology has revealed the broad outlines of a farming and seafaring culture that had emigrated from Anatolia c.  5000 BCE . Early Cycladic culture evolved in three phases, between c. 3300 – 2000 BCE, when it was increasingly swamped in the rising influence of Minoan Crete. The culture of mainland Greece contemporary with Cycladic culture

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1518-545: Is the peroxide value , which measures the degree to which the oil is oxidized by free radicals , leading to oxidative rancidity. Phenolic acids present in olive oil also add acidic sensory properties to aroma and flavor. The grades of oil extracted from the olive fruit can be classified as: In countries that adhere to the standards of the International Olive Council , as well as in Australia, and under

1587-436: Is then malaxed (slowly churned or mixed) to allow the microscopic oil droplets to agglomerate. The oil is then separated from the watery matter and fruit pulp with the use of a press (traditional method) or centrifugation (modern method). After extraction the remnant solid substance, called pomace , still contains a small quantity of oil. One parameter used to characterise an oil is its acidity . In this context, "acidity"

1656-540: Is unknown. Archaeological evidence in Galilee shows that by 6000 BC olives were being turned into olive oil and in 4500 BC at a now-submerged prehistoric settlement south of Haifa . Olive trees and oil production in the Eastern Mediterranean can be traced to archives of the ancient city-state Ebla (2600–2240 BC), which were located on the outskirts of Aleppo . Here some dozen documents dated 2400 BC describe

1725-518: Is virgin oil that has been refined using charcoal and other chemical and physical filters, methods which do not alter the glyceridic structure. It has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.3 grams per 100 grams (0.3%) and its other characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in this standard. It is obtained by refining virgin oils to eliminate high acidity or organoleptic defects. Oils labeled as pure olive oil or olive oil are primarily refined olive oil, with

1794-694: The British School at Athens and by Christos Tsountas , who investigated burial sites on several islands in 1898–1899 and coined the term "Cycladic civilization". Interest lagged, and then picked up in the mid-20th century, as collectors competed for the modern-looking figures that seemed so similar to sculpture by Jean Arp or Constantin Brâncuși . Sites were looted and a brisk trade in forgeries arose. The context for many of these Cycladic figurines has been mostly destroyed and their meaning may never be completely understood. Another intriguing and mysterious object

1863-675: The European Union , has low biodegradability , is toxic to plants, and cannot be processed through conventional water treatment systems. Traditionally, olive pomace would be used as compost or developed as a possible biofuel , although these uses introduce concern due to chemicals present in the pomace. A process called "valorization" of olive pomace is under research and development, consisting of additional processing to obtain value-added byproducts , such as animal feed , food additives for human products, and phenolic and fatty acid extracts for potential human use. On average, during

1932-657: The Levant and later to North Africa , though some scholars argue for an Egyptian origin. The olive tree reached Greece, Carthage and Libya sometime in the 28th century BC , having been spread westward by the Phoenicians . Until around 1500 BC, eastern coastal areas of the Mediterranean were most heavily cultivated. Evidence also suggests that olives were being grown in Crete as long ago as 2500 BC. The earliest surviving olive oil amphorae date to 3500 BC ( Early Minoan times), though

2001-423: The U.S. Department of Agriculture adopted new voluntary olive oil grading standards that closely parallel those of the IOC, with some adjustments for the characteristics of olives grown in the U.S. U.S. Customs regulations on "country of origin" state that if a non-origin nation is shown on the label, then the real origin must be shown on the same side of the label in letters of comparable size, so as not to mislead

2070-506: The grape , used as a dessert fruit and for wine. Extra virgin olive oil is mostly used raw as a condiment and as an ingredient in salad dressings . If uncompromised by heat, the flavor is stronger. It also can be used for sautéing . When extra virgin olive oil is heated above 210–216 °C (410–421 °F), depending on its free fatty acid content, the unrefined particles within the oil are burned. This leads to deteriorated taste. Refined olive oils are suited for deep frying because of

2139-439: The 1880s, undertaken by antiquaries such as Theodore Bent , were followed by systematic work by the British School at Athens and by Christos Tsountas , who investigated burial sites on several islands in 1898–99 and coined the term "Cycladic civilization". Interest then lagged, but picked up in the mid-20th century, partially to collectors taking an interest in owning artifacts from Early Cycladic cemeteries. Pottery makes up

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2208-637: The Cyclades via boats, especially during the Early Cycladic period. While there are no discovered surviving boats from this time and place, other types of archaeological finds have helped historians piece together evidence of a rich seafaring practice in Cycladic culture. Discoveries include the Cycladic frying pans , whose original functions remain unknown. Despite the mysteries that come with them, Cycladic frying pans offer insight into Cycladic culture through their imagery. The pan pictured in this section, as well as others that archaeologists have found, depicts

2277-548: The Eastern Mediterranean region, and some dating to the Roman period are still in use today. Productivity was greatly improved by Joseph Graham's development of the hydraulic pressing system in 1795. The olive tree has historically been a symbol of peace between nations. It has played a religious and social role in Greek mythology , especially concerning the city of Athens , named after the goddess Athena because her gift of an olive tree

2346-650: The Exodus of the Tribes of Israel from Egypt , and later in the permanent Temple in Jerusalem . It was obtained by using only the first drop from a squeezed olive and was consecrated for use only in the Temple by the priests and stored in special containers. In modern times, although candles can be used to light the menorah at Hanukkah , oil containers are preferred, to imitate the original menorah. In Judaism of Ancient Israel, olive oil

2415-574: The Mediterranean, olive farming was introduced to places like Spain and continued to spread throughout the Roman Empire . Olive trees were introduced to the Americas in the 16th century, when cultivation began in areas with a climate similar to the Mediterranean, such as Chile, Argentina, and California . Recent genetic studies suggest that species used by modern cultivators descend from multiple wild populations, but detailed history of domestication

2484-627: The Orthodox Cathedral in Chora, where the archaeological site of Grotta is located today. Naxos has been continuously inhabited since at least the fourth millennium BC. Study of the island's toponyms asserts that Naxos has never been abandoned. Cycladic culture in the Middle Bronze age went through some geographical shifts, as archaeologists have found artifacts and communities that point towards an expansion of Cycladic culture's influence, including on

2553-494: The association of Città dell'Olio. Italy imports about 65% of Spanish olive oil exports. Greece has by far the largest per capita consumption of olive oil worldwide, around 24 liters per year. Consumption in Spain is 15 liters; Italy 13 liters; and Israel, around 3 liters. Canada consumes 1.5 liters and the US 1 liter. The International Olive Council (IOC)

2622-463: The consumer. Yet most major U.S. brands continue to put "imported from Italy" on the front label in large letters and other origins on the back in very small print. "In fact, olive oil labeled 'Italian' often comes from Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain, and Greece." This makes it unclear what percentage of the olive oil is really of Italian origin. All production begins by transforming the olive fruit into olive paste by crushing or pressing. This paste

2691-404: The early 1900s, private collectors have coveted Cycladic figures and other artifacts, leading to a huge illicit trade in these items. These figures have typically been stolen from burials to satisfy the Cycladic antiquities market. This really began as collectors competed for the modern-looking figures that seemed so similar to a sculpture by Jean Arp or Constantin Brâncuși . Sites were looted and

2760-607: The entire Mediterranean basin during evolution of the Roman Republic and Empire . According to the historian Pliny the Elder , Italy had "excellent olive oil at reasonable prices" by the 1st century AD—"the best in the Mediterranean". As olive production expanded in the 5th century AD the Romans began to employ more sophisticated production techniques such as the olive press and trapetum (pictured left). Many ancient presses still exist in

2829-574: The ground to induce sweating and decay before they are ground. According to the Geoponica , salt and a little nitre are added when oil is stored. In countries of the levant, a sharp-tasting green oil was sometimes extracted from unripe olives, known in medieval times as anpeqinon ( Ancient Greek : ὀμφάκιον, ὀμφάχινον ; Arabic : زيت الأنفاق ), being a corruption of the Latin words oleum omphacium and used in cuisine and in medicine. Today, this oil

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2898-435: The higher smoke point and milder flavour. Extra virgin oils have a smoke point around 180–215 °C (356–419 °F), with higher-quality oils having a higher smoke point, whereas refined light olive oil has a smoke point up to 230 °C (446 °F). That they can be used for deep frying is contrary to the common misconception that there are no olive oils with a smoke point as high as many other vegetable oils . In

2967-421: The islands forming a circle ("circular islands") around the sacred island of Delos. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited. Ermoupoli on Syros is the chief town and administrative center of the former prefecture. The islands are peaks of a submerged mountainous terrain, with the exception of two volcanic islands , Milos and Santorini. The climate is generally dry and mild, but with the exception of Naxos,

3036-813: The islands' pure white marble. It was roughly contemporaneous with the Middle Bronze Age (" Minoan ") culture that arose in Crete , to the south. A distinctive Neolithic culture amalgamating Anatolian and mainland Greek elements arose in the western Aegean in the third millennium BC based on emmer and wild-type barley, sheep and goats, pigs, and tuna that were apparently speared from small boats (Rutter). Excavated sites include Chalandriani , Phylakopi , Skarkos , Saliagos , Amorgos , Naxos and Kephala (on Kea ), which showed signs of copper-working. Early Cycladic culture evolved in three phases, between c. 3100 and 2300 BC. Excavations at Knossos on Crete reveal an influence of Cycladic civilization upon Knossos in

3105-490: The lands of the king and the queen. These belonged to a library of clay tablets perfectly preserved by having been baked in the fire that destroyed the palace. A later source is the frequent mentions of oil in the Tanakh . Dynastic Egyptians before 2000 BC imported olive oil from Crete, Syria and Canaan , and oil was an important item of commerce and wealth. Remains of olive oil have been found in jugs over 4,000 years old in

3174-493: The last of these retained its archaic reputation as a sanctuary through the period of Classical Greek civilization (see Delian League ). The chronology of Cycladic civilization is divided into three major sequences: Early, Middle and Late Cycladic. The early period, beginning c. 3100 BC, segued into the archaeologically murkier Middle Cycladic c. 2000 BC. By the end of the Late Cycladic sequence (c. 1000 BC), there

3243-477: The mainland and Crete. Walls that appear to date to this period show expansion from older Cycladic walls in many areas. One of the main pieces of evidence we have for this period of Cycladic history is pottery. Likewise, graves serve as a primary source of information for this period. Transitions in pottery styles have helped historians pin down a more accurate date range for the Middle Cycladic period. Each of

3312-451: The misconception, heating at these high heats is theorised to impact taste or nutrition. The Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches use olive oil for the oil of catechumens (used to bless and strengthen those preparing for baptism) and oil of the sick (used to confer the Sacrament of anointing of the sick or extreme unction). Olive oil mixed with a perfuming agent such as balsam

3381-447: The oil is consumed, whereupon the rest of the cotton burns out. Olive oil is a usual offering to churches and cemeteries. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses virgin olive oil that has been blessed by the priesthood for anointing the sick. In Jewish observance, olive oil was the only fuel allowed to be used in the seven-branched menorah in the Mishkan service during

3450-605: The oil was made by a process where olives were placed in woven mats and squeezed. The oil was collected in vats. This process was known from the Bronze Age , was used by the Egyptians, and continued to be used through the Hellenistic period . The importance of olive oil as a commercial commodity increased after the Roman conquest of Egypt, Greece and Asia Minor led to more trade along the Mediterranean. Olive trees were planted throughout

3519-572: The olive oil in Spain. The world's largest olive oil mill ( almazara , in Spanish), capable of processing 2,500 tonnes of olives per day, is in the town of Villacarrillo , Jaén. Italian major producers are the regions of Calabria and, above all, Apulia . Many PDO and PGI extra-virgin olive oil are produced in these regions. Extra-virgin olive oil is also produced in Tuscany , in cities including Lucca , Florence , and Siena , which are also included in

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3588-440: The percentage is far higher in some Mediterranean countries. The International Olive Council requires the median of the fruity attribute to be higher than zero for a given olive oil in order to meet the criteria of extra virgin olive oil classification. Virgin olive oil is a lesser grade of virgin oil, with free acidity of up to 2.0%, and is judged to have a good taste, but may include some sensory defects. Refined olive oil

3657-496: The period 2016 to 2021, world production of olive oil was 3.1 million metric tons (3.4 million short tons). Spain produced 44% of world production. The next largest producers were Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco. Villacarrillo , Jaén , Andalucía , Spain is a center of olive oil production. Spain's olive oil production derives 75% from the region of Andalucía , particularly within Jaén province which produces 70% of

3726-465: The period 3400 to 2000 BC as evidenced from pottery finds at Knossos. Kea is the location of a Bronze Age settlement at the site now called Ayia Irini , which reached its height in the Late Minoan and Early Mycenaean eras (1600–1400 BC). The Mycenaean town of Naxos (around 1300 BC) covered the area from today's city to the islet of "Palatia." Part of it was discovered under the square in front of

3795-668: The prefecture was abolished, and its territory was divided into nine regional units of the South Aegean region: The prefecture was subdivided into the following municipalities and communities. These have been reorganised at the 2011 Kallikratis reform as well. Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece . Local specialities of the Cyclades include: 37°00′N 25°10′E  /  37.000°N 25.167°E  / 37.000; 25.167 Cycladic culture Cycladic culture (also known as Cycladic civilisation )

3864-555: The production of olive oil is assumed to have started before 4000 BC. Olive trees were certainly cultivated by the Late Minoan period (1500 BC) in Crete, and perhaps as early as the Early Minoan. The cultivation of olive trees in Crete became particularly intense in the post-palatial period and played an important role in the island's economy, as it did across the Mediterranean. Later, as Greek colonies were established in other parts of

3933-450: The scattered communities (Rutter), and when the highly organized palace-culture of Crete arose, the islands faded into insignificance, with the exception of Delos, which retained its archaic reputation as a sanctuary throughout antiquity and until the emergence of Christianity. The first archaeological excavations of the 1880s, undertaken by antiquaries such as Theodore Bent at Antiparos in early 1884, were followed by systematic work by

4002-458: The small Cycladic islands could support no more than a few thousand people, though Late Cycladic boat models show that crews of twenty-five oarsmen could be assembled from the scattered communities. When the highly organized palace-culture of Crete arose, the islands became relatively less significant. This occurred when Cycladic culture was increasingly submerged in the rising influence of Minoan Crete. Exceptions to this were Kea, Naxos and Delos ;

4071-470: The soil is not very fertile; agricultural produce includes wine, fruit, wheat, olive oil , and tobacco. Lower temperatures are registered in higher elevations and these areas do not usually see wintry weather. The Cyclades are bounded to the south by the Sea of Crete . The Cyclades Prefecture ( Greek : Νομός Κυκλάδων ) was one of the prefectures of Greece . As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform ,

4140-423: The stages of maturity, olive fruit changes colour from green to violet, and then black. Olive oil taste characteristics depend on the stage of ripeness at which olive fruits are collected. Olive oil is an important cooking oil in countries surrounding the Mediterranean, and it forms one of the three staple food plants of Mediterranean cuisine , the other two being wheat (as in pasta , bread, and couscous ), and

4209-475: The synthesis of cadmium selenide quantum dots . The Ranieri Filo della Torre is an international literary prize for writings about extra virgin olive oil. It yearly honors poetry, fiction and non-fiction about extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is produced by grinding olives and extracting the oil by mechanical or chemical means. Green olives usually produce more bitter oil, and overripe olives can produce oil with fermentation defects, so for good olive oil care

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4278-544: The voluntary United States Department of Agriculture labeling standards in the United States: Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade of virgin olive oil derived by cold mechanical extraction without use of solvents or refining methods. It contains no more than 0.8% free acidity , and is judged to have a superior taste, having some fruitiness and no defined sensory defects. Extra virgin olive oil accounts for less than 10% of oil in many producing countries;

4347-455: The western Aegean before 4000 BCE, based on emmer and wild-type barley, sheep and goats, pigs, and tuna that were apparently speared from small boats (Rutter). Excavated sites include Chalandriani , Phylakopi , Skarkos , Saliagos and Kephala (on Kea ) with signs of copperworking, Each of the small Cycladic islands could support no more than a few thousand people, though Late Cycladic boat models show that fifty oarsmen could be assembled from

4416-554: Was a Bronze Age culture (c. 3100–c. 1000 BC) found throughout the islands of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea . In chronological terms, it is a relative dating system for artifacts which is roughly contemporary to Helladic chronology (mainland Greece) and Minoan chronology (Crete) during the same period of time. The significant Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cycladic culture is best known for its schematic flat female (and, rarely, male) figurines of uncertain purpose carved out of

4485-417: Was also popular as a form of birth control; Aristotle in his History of Animals recommends applying a mixture of olive oil combined with either oil of cedar , ointment of lead , or ointment of frankincense to the cervix to prevent pregnancy. It is not clear when and where olive trees were first domesticated. The modern olive tree may have originated in ancient Persia and Mesopotamia and spread to

4554-489: Was also used to prepare the holy anointing oil used for priests, kings, prophets, and others. Olive oil is also a natural and safe lubricant , and can be used to lubricate kitchen machinery (grinders, blenders, cookware, etc.). It can also be used for illumination (oil lamps) or as the base for soaps and detergents. Some cosmetics also use olive oil as their base, and it can be used as a substitute for machine oil. Olive oil has also been used as both solvent and ligand in

4623-478: Was essential convergence between the Cycladic and Minoan civilizations. There is some disagreement between the dating systems used for Cycladic civilization, one "cultural" and one "chronological". Attempts to link them lead to varying combinations. A prominent scholarly attempt to do this, as proposed by Oliver Dickinson, can be found below: * Indicates this space is left intentionally blank due to lack of scholarly data. The initial archaeological excavations of

4692-418: Was held to be more precious than rival Poseidon 's gift of a salt spring. There are many olive cultivars , each with a particular flavor, texture, and shelf life that make them more or less suitable for different applications, such as direct human consumption on bread or in salads, indirect consumption in domestic cooking or catering, or industrial uses such as animal feed or engineering applications. During

4761-474: Was produced from fully developed and ripe olives harvested solely from the apex of the tree, and lightly pressed, "for what flows from light pressure is very sweet and very thin". The remaining olives are pressed with a heavier weight, and vary in ripeness. Inferior oil is produced from unripe olives that are stored for extended periods of time until they grow soft or begin to shrivel to become more fit for grinding. Others are left for extended periods in pits in

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