130 The Olive Tree. 



between Neptune and Minerva, arising; from the desire of each of 

 them to give a name to the new city of Cecrops; they determin- 

 ed to give the preference to the one who should produce the most 

 beneficial gift to mankind. Neptune, striking the ground with 

 his trident, created a horse; but Minerva, by causing an olive 

 tree to spring from the earth, gained her point, and from her was 

 the city called Athenae, now Athens; since, the olive, the emblem 

 of peace or agriculture, was much preferred to the horse, the sym- 

 bol of war and bloodshed. Minerva and the Graces are also rep- 

 resented as crowned with olive branches. 



A contribution of olives was given by all the Grecians who at- 

 tended the PanathencPM^ a festival held at Athens in honor of 

 Minerva. Those who excelled in any of the games during this 

 festival, were crowmed with a wreath of olives, which grew in the 

 grove of Academus, a place near the city, with spacious and 

 shady walks, belonging to a man of that name. Plato having here 

 opened a school of philosophy, all places of learning have been 

 since called Academies. 



As to the native country of the olive, we may conclude, from 

 several passages in scripture, that it grew naturally in Syria; but 

 particularly near Jerusalem, if we may judge by the ' Mount of 

 Olives,' so often mentioned in the New Testament. It was first 

 planted in Italy, in the thirteenth year of the reign of Servius 

 Tullis, the sixth king of Rome; and in that very year was Nebu- 

 chadnezzar restored to his understanding and his kingdom, after 

 having spent seven years among the beasts of the field. 



The olive seems to have been highly appreciated by the Ro- 

 mans; as Pliny says, ' except the vine, there is not a tree bear- 

 ing fruit of so great account as the olive.' Fenestella informs us, 

 continues this author, ' that during the reign of Tarquenius Pris- 

 cus, which was about the 1 83d year from the foundation of Rome, 

 there were no olive trees, either in Italy, Spain, or Africa, which 

 is a strong presumption that they grew originally only in Syria.' 

 Theophrastus states that in the 440th year of the city, there were 

 no olive trees in Italy, but on the coast, and within forty miles of 

 the sea; but Pliny says, in his time, they were to be found in the 

 very heart of Spain and France, but that the olives of Syria, al- 

 though smaller, produces the best oil. Virgil mentions but three 

 kinds of olives. Columella mentions ten varieties, but says, he 

 believes they were much more numerous. 



In the olive yards of France, the olive tree generally attains 

 the height of eighteen or twenty five, with a diameter of six inches 

 to two feet. It ramifies at a small height, and forms a compact 

 rounded summit. The foHage is of a pale, impoverished verdure^ 



