There is something surprisingly modest about olive trees, given their noble history and legendary reputation. Quite often, there is nothing particularly breathtaking or impressive about the tree’s height, girth, leaves, or fragrance. But for an Italian, as for most Mediterranean people, the olive tree has been seen throughout history as a symbol of peace, victory, and the endurance of life itself—evoking feelings of harmony, vitality, and health. Known as “the tree of eternity,” the olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated trees, grown even before written language was invented. These ancient trees originated in the region that is today called Turkey, and they have had a huge impact on all the important Mediterranean civilizations. The olive tree’s longevity is due to its strength and ability to survive adverse conditions. Olive trees can survive drought, adapt to almost any sunny or temperate environment, thrive in most types of soil, and even endure periods of low temperatures. One of the oldest known olive trees is over 3,000 years old and it still bears fruit in Crete. Today there are 800 million olive trees growing on Earth, and no less than 500 different cultivars, or varieties of olives.