White olives: Gift from Magna Graecia

[guy]

 

We sometimes forget the great impact that Greek culture has had on both Ancient Rome and modern Italy. The white olive (leucolea) is almost exclusively found in Southern Italy, especially the region of Calabria. This was one of many contributions of the ancient Greeks to Italy.

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“Experts claim that this particular fruit was most probably first introduced to the south of Italy during the years of the Greek colonization of the Italian peninsula and Sicily.“

The Greek influence can still be seen (as well as heard and tasted) in Southern Italy today.

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“There are two minority Greek languages officially recognized in Italy’s south. Greko and Griko — both spoken by the “Calabrian Greeks” — are both timeless testaments to the ancient Greeks’ colonization of southern Italy in the 8th and 7th centuries B.C., some 2,700 years ago.

A brief history lesson reminds us that Greek was in fact the dominant language and cultural influence throughout a large portion of Italy, including modern-day Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia, and eastern Sicily, up until the 14th century.”

 

https://greekreporter.com/2021/09/10/the-unique-ancient-tree-that-produces-pearly-white-olives/

 

This man from Calabria proudly shows his white olive plant. (I have Italian family, despite not speaking a word of English, who feel that it is easier to understand English than understand someone who speaks with a Calabrese dialect.)

 

 

Edited February 2 by guy