Olive and Olive Oil in the Ancient Age: Cilicia Region Example

Abstract

The most common opinion about the olive which has a significant importance
in the culture of the civilizations of the Mediterranean region, is that it was
produced in Anatolia before Greece and Aegean Islands and then spread
throughout the world by maritime trade. Although there are various opinions
about the origin of the olive tree, South Asia Minor is accepted as its origin.
Today, the said region is around Eastern Mediterranean and Hatay, Gaziantep
and Kahramanmaraş in our country. As a result of the archeological
researches and digs, the olive oil production areas were revealed in Cilicia
region. It was understood from the Hittite scripts that olive cultivation and
olive oil production and trading had been made thousands year ago in Cilicia
region. In the study, the following topics are discussed and a few suggestions
are made: the origin of olive, olive and olive oil in ancient age, areas of use
of olive and olive oil in ancient age, the olive oil productions places in
ancient Cilicia region, olive and olive oil in Anatolian culture and
gastronomy tourism.