(3) 



exchanged for bars of gold. Pliny informs us 

 that this culture was unknown in Spain and 

 Italy in the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, but 

 that when once introduced it was rapidly dif- 

 fused. The Olive was planted in France by 

 the Phocean colony which founded Mar- 

 seilles , six hundred years before Christ. 



The Athenians held the Olive in such es- 

 teem, that they ascribed its production to 

 their tutelary deity. This beneficent miracle, 

 which is retraced in the monuments of 

 Athens, is differently represented by ancient 

 authors ; it is thus agreeably related by Apol- 

 lodorus Alheniensis : In the reign of Cecrops 

 leave was first given to the Gods to assume 

 the patronage of cities , in which they might 

 appropriate to themselves peculiar honours. 

 Upon which Neptune came into Attica, and, 

 standing in the middle of the citadel , smote 

 the earth with his trident, and caused the sea 

 to flow at his feet. After him appeared Mi- 

 nerva , who, calling Cecrops to be a witness 

 of what she was about to perform , caused an 

 Olive-Tree to spring from the ground. A 

 contention hence arose betw r een these divi- 

 nities, to appease which Jupiter appointed 



