āThe oldest olive tree in the world located on the island of Crete. It is estimated to be as over 3,000 years old and still produces olives.ā
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gotta share @telesillaās tags -
#that was (give or take) around the time of the bronze age collapse #crete was no longer a major player #and the known world was kinda in turmoil #and yet someone planted an olive tree #iām not saying thereās a direct parallel #but you knowā¦systemic collapse thanks to many things including climate change #and it sucked for a lot of people #but they still needed olive oil #and idk manā¦maybe plant a tree #because the world has ended so many times #but the tree is still here #and so are we
the world has ended so many times but the tree is still here and so are we
Olive trees can regrow many years after being burned or chopped down, so it was a capital offense in ancient Athens to dig up an olive stump. (Source: a speech by Lysias on behalf of some wealthy landlord accused of digging up an olive stump 2400 years ago.)
So this gnarled old tree may have looked like it was down and out numerous times, so badly damaged people it was dead. But it came back. A little more gnarled, but outliving those who sought to chop it down.
