2.Herodotus describes the following story which is relevant to the olive wreath. Xerxes was interrogating some Arcadians after the Battle of Thermopylae. He inquired why there were so few Greek men defending the Thermopylae. The answer was "All other men are participating in the Olympic Games". And when asked "What is the prize for the winner?", "An olive-wreath" came the answer. Then ,one of his generals uttered: "Good heavens! Mardonius, what kind of men are these against whom you have brought us to fight? Men who do not compete for possessions, but for vrtue."'

3.Aristophanes in Plutus makes a humorous comment on victorious athletes who are crowned with wreath made of wild olive instead of gold:

4.The Athenians depicted Goddess Athena  with an olive wreath on her helmet and an amphora filled with olive oil  or an olive branch in her hand. Moreover, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the seven Wonders ,made by the Greek sculptor Phidias was also crowned with olive wreath.
5. Homer mentions olive tree, particularly in Odyssey. In the 
Phaeacians' land, there were a lot of olive trees in the gardens of King Alcinous Palace. Homer describes them with beautiful adjectives, depecting in this way the distinguished status of olive trees in the daily life of Ancient Greeks. When Odysseus arrives at the Phaeacians' land, naked and wrecked, he finds shelter in an olive grove. Later on, the Phaeacians lay their presents at the root of an olive tree. When Odysseus arrives at Ithaca, Athena shows him an olive tree by the port of Forkynos, to persuade him that he has finally arrived home. Finally, Athena and Telemachus plan the slaying of the Suitors under the shade of an olive tree, sitting by its root.

Betül Can Anatolian High School