Greek literature, from Homer to Elytis and Ritsos, has drawn steady inspiration from the olive tree, while painting has depicted the tree, its fruit, and its cultivation in countless ways, from ancient frescoes to modern paintings.

The olive tree and its oil have been a source of inspiration from antiquity to the present day.

In classical antiquity we find olive leaves on coins and in vase decoration.

In Minoan times we find wonderful frescoes on the theme of the olive tree and its oil, and the same is true of the Mycenaean era.

In the visual arts, many artists from all over the world have created works referencing the olive tree, since it is a work of art in itself, and photographers have captured it like no other tree.

The olive tree's presence for millennia in Greece and the wider Mediterranean has shaped the customs and traditions of the peoples who have lived, and still live, in its shade.