You are here:
Home 
Crete Cretan Products Olive Oil Olive Cultivation and the Environment
Crete Cretan Products Olive Oil Olive Cultivation and the Environment
| Olive Cultivation and the Environment |
| Olive Oil articles |
 General InformationOlive cultivation (Cultivation of olives, pressing, storage, packaging) is closely related and interacts significantly with the Social and Natural Environment in the areas where this activity is carried on. In almost all Mediterranean countries from ancient times until the present day the relationship between olive cultivation and the social environment has been very close. Its impact on social life is well known (mythology, history, tradition, religion) as is its impact on intellectual life (the fine arts, the letters and sport) and on the quality of day-to-day life (diet, health, beauty, decoration, etc.). Moreover, in Mediterranean countries and in the warmer coastal zones which provide suitable soil and climate conditions for the growth and fruiting of olive trees, olive cultivation often has positive impacts on the natural environment. 
Olive cultivation in the social environment Mythology. There are many well known myths associated with the Olive tree. Among the best known of these is that relating to the struggle between the goddess Athena and the god Poseidon over the name to be given to the city of Athens, which was won by Athena who gave man an olive tree as the symbol of knowledge, peace and wisdom instead of the horse, the symbol of power, which was given by Poseidon. Religion. The olive tree and its oil are also closely connected with almost all monotheistic religions and in particular Christianity. The olive tree is well known from the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane and the use of oil in the mysteries and ceremonies of the Christian religion (baptism, Holy Unction, etc.) and from the lighting of churches using oil lamps. Today olives are the trees which decorate the grounds of many chapels on Crete and elsewhere… Symbolism. Moreover, the olive is considered an extremely important symbol of peace, knowledge, prosperity and hope. The dove that returned to Noah's Ark after the flood with the olive branch in its beak is a multiple symbol of peace and hope of prosperity. The fine arts. The olive tree and its blossom and branches have been a popular subject in the fine arts from the Minoan age through Classical antiquity right up to the present day. There are numerous depictions in wall paintings, on vessels, in jewellery, on coins, in sculptures and so on. The wall paintings of Knossos are well known as are the Minoan pithoi and amphorae with painted scenes, the black and red Attican ceramic ware, carved scenes on various ancient sanctuaries and so on as well as the exceptional works of modern Greek painters such as Theophilus among others. The Letters. The olive as a tree, its fruit and its oil as well as the task of cultivating and processing it have been the subject of numerous poems and prose works. There are many references in the ancient poets, tragedians and historians such as Homer, Plato, Pausanias,  Aristophanes, Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles and others as well as in the works of modern poets and prose writers such as Palamas, Kalvos, Mavilis, Agras, Valaoritis, Venezis, Drosinis, Malakasis, Myrivilis, Nirvanas, Moreas, Polemis, Porphyras, Sikelianos, Papadiamantis, Eftaliotis, Varnalis, Prevelakis, Kazantzakis, Frangoulis and others.Sport. Both the olive tree and its oil are closely connected with sport and have been from ancient times to the present day. In the Olympic Games the winners were crowned with a wreath from the branches of the wild olive which had been brought to Olympia by Hercules but athletes also rubbed and cleaned their bodies with oil before and after the games. Also during the later Panathenaic Games the winner's prize consisted of a number of amphorae full of oil whose value was not inconsiderable. Nutrition - Health. The products of the olive tree, its fruit and in particular its oil are considered to be the main elements of a healthy diet. Documented medical studies such that the '7 countries' study are well known according to which the longevity of the Cretans is primarily due to the Cretan Diet which is based around olive oil. Today modern medicine is constantly confirming the beneficial properties of olive oil for cardiovascular conditions, for various forms of cancers, stomach ulcers, diabetes, and nutrition for children and the elderly. Decoration. Moreover, in many parts of Greece today, and in particular Crete, olive trees are the decorative plants whose white and green colour are used to decorate the surroundings of villages, rural houses and modern country homes. This is no chance thing since the olive tree is tied into the psychology of the residents of these areas and with the external environment which is usually dominated by olive plantations. Olive Cultivation in the Natural Environment The positive contribution to nature.
Cases of environmental risks There are certainly cases where erroneous or non-rational human actions during cultivation or processing of olives can cause risks of environmental harm. In most areas and in particular on Crete such risks range from extremely limited to non-existent and include:
Impact of climate on olive cultivation The environment in the sense of climate conditions which vary locally and over time most certainly have positive and negative impacts on the development of production in terms of both quantity and quality. The quantity on production is closely dependent on climate conditions (rain, temperature) particularly during the spring period when flowering and fruit set occurs. The quality of production in terms of taste (organoleptic) characteristics depends more on the area and less on the year. That is because the climate conditions which influence quality are mainly those of the autumn - at which time the oil is formed in the fruit - which usually vary more from place to place rather than from year to year. Olive press waste and olive stones Waste from olive presses and in particular liquids (run off water) which has increased in recent years due to increased production and due to the import and generalized spread of centrifugal olive presses is a really serious environmental problem. When there is no effective method for handling such waste and it is freely dumped into nearby streams the surface and sub-surface waters or even the sea can be polluted. Following constant updates, exhortations and controls by official bodies over the last ten years a large percentage (80-100%) of olive presses on Crete preferred the solution based on the evaporation tank method even though in certain cases there were problematic or inadequate constructions. Until recently the olive stone was a remarkable by product but for two years now has begun to have problems. The problem began when benzopyrenes, which are considered to be carcinogenic, were identified in oil from the stones in Spain and then in Italy and Greece. The cause of the problem is attributed to high moisture levels at 65% or over in the olive stones at two phase olive presses. Conclusions
|
| Last Updated on Thursday, 12 November 2009 18:48 |
Advanced Search..
Beach Map
Updated articles Category: Articles general  The monastery of Agia Triada of Tzagarolon is one of the richest 0 Comments , 15 Hits Category: Articles general  Europe's first advanced civilisation was local in origin and not 0 Comments , 24 Hits Category: Articles general  From Minoan monuments to relics of the Second World War, a family 0 Comments , 38 Hits Category: Articles general  The recent (12 April 2013) shooting of foreign workers, in 0 Comments , 48 Hits Category: Makrigialos  Villa Feggari apartments Makrigialos >> sea view 0 Comments , 161 Hits |
Most Read Category: Restaurant and Taverns in East Crete  Palm Beach Vai in Palekastro, East Crete. Our purpose at Palm 0 Comments , 23935 Hits Category: Restaurant and Taverns in East Crete  Welcome to The Lemon Tree, welcome to food heaven!We are a 16 Comments , 22351 Hits Category: Restaurant and Taverns in East Crete  Taverna - Restaurant "Kalliotzina" in Makrigialos, Koutsouras, 7 Comments , 20538 Hits Category: Restaurant and Taverns in East Crete  AMPELES tavern is located next to the AMBELES apartments 1 Comment , 20361 Hits Category: Business Directories  The Greek Directory is an online business directory in Greek 0 Comments , 18632 Hits |
Newest Articles Category: Articles general The monastery of Agia Triada of Tzagarolon is one of the richest and most... 0 Comments , 15 Hits Category: Articles general Europe's first advanced civilisation was local in origin and not imported... 0 Comments , 24 Hits Category: Articles general From Minoan monuments to relics of the Second World War, a family holiday... 0 Comments , 38 Hits Category: Articles general The recent (12 April 2013) shooting of foreign workers, in... 0 Comments , 48 Hits Category: Makrigialos Villa Feggari apartments Makrigialos >> sea view apartments in... 0 Comments , 161 Hits |
The Web Crete Directory
|
Latest Comments..
 |
The Crete Web Directory is a Business - Travel Directory which belongs to CRETAN CREATIONS NETWORK. Submit your website or company to the WebCrete.Net business directory, to the 
