Registration and promotion of monumental olive trees in Greece.

Stavros Koniditsiotis

doi:10.14738/assrj.74.7977

Stavros Koniditsiotis

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.74.7977

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Abstract

The history of the olive tree, its cultivation and its products is known for centuries. Some olive tree have survived over millennia and their history dates back to antiquity. In many cases, it is related to mythology and religion. The olive tree is associated with folk tradition, people's everyday life, and customs. In Greece, monumental olive trees are found in the Peloponnese, Crete, Euboea, Chios, Pelion and Attica. This paper explores and describes the particular morphological features such as shape, size, wood, cavities and age, as well as the cultural characteristics such as historical or religious events, myths and traditions that define an olive tree and characterize it as monumental. The main aim of our research is to examine the key position that monumental olive trees and their materialistic and symbolic manifestations consist a natural and cultural heritage as well. In this framework the study focuses on various key issues related to monumental olives trees and their natural, historical, social and cultural value.

Highlights

The present study is a part of a wider research on the value of the natural heritage and specially on ancient olives trees as natural monuments and cultural heritage of all Mediterranean regions
The main aim of our research is to examine the key position that monumental olive trees and their materialistic and symbolic manifestations consist a natural and cultural heritage as well
18 olive trees were categorized into two categories, nature conservation monuments and monumental olive trees

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The present study is a part of a wider research on the value of the natural heritage and specially on ancient olives trees as natural monuments and cultural heritage of all Mediterranean regions. Monumental olive trees in Greece exist in areas of Crete, Chios, Lesvos, Kalamata, Athens, Kefalonia, Delphi, Corfu, Ermioni, Salamis and other areas These olives are related to the wider historical and religious context of the area in which they are located and have many special morphological features. Two olive trees owned by Dimitrios Kamilaki, aged 3,000 and 3,100 years respectively, are preserved and date back to the Sub-Minoan period (1,100-1,000 BC) Their morphological features are noteworthy, as the perimeter of their base trunk varies between 18.80m. Three centuries-old olive trees over 200 years old, located on the outskirts of the Church of the Assumption, in the beach settlement of Almyropotamos - Karyotia, have been declared monuments of nature These olives have particular morphological characteristics, a perimeter of more than 6.30 meters and give an aesthetic presence to the area.

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Athens