World’s oldest olive tree has been producing olives since Roman times
A tree in Crete is believed to have lived for up to 4,000 years, surviving Mycenaean, Roman and Ottoman rule.
Nature never ceases to amaze, and few examples illustrate this better than the extraordinary longevity of certain trees. One of the most striking cases is the olive tree of Vouves, a monumental specimen located on the island of Crete in Greece.
Experts estimate that this olive tree could be up to 4,000 years old, an exceptional age for a living organism that has endured millennia of change. Despite the passage of time, the tree continues to produce perfectly edible olives year after year, making it a rare biological phenomenon.
The Vouves olive tree immediately draws attention because of its distinctive appearance. Its trunk is twisted and partially hollow, shaped by centuries of wind and weather, while its canopy remains healthy and vigorous, continuing to regenerate season after season.
A living witness to human history
Beyond its physical features, the tree stands as a silent witness to the history of humankind. It dates back to the height of the Minoan civilization in Crete, one of the earliest cultures known to cultivate olive trees. Over the centuries, it has survived the Mycenaean invasions, the Roman period which reshaped the island and much of the Mediterranean, and the era of Ottoman rule.
The tree has also played a role in modern history. Branches from the Vouves olive tree were used during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens to create the olive wreath awarded to the marathon champion. That gesture linked an ancient symbol of endurance to the modern celebration of sport, doing so with one of the world’s most extraordinary natural phenomenons.
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