“The Olive,” New Era, Apr. 2013, 24–25
The Olive
Studying this versatile fruit can yield many insights into our Savior’s sacrifice.

Photographs by iStock/Thinkstock and Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock; Christ in Gethsemane by Harry Anderson
“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.”
Mediterranean Olive Trees
Plant name: Olea europaea
Plant type: evergreen, angiosperm (flowering)
Propagation: from softwood cuttings or seeds
Process for extracting oil: cleaning, crushing, and pressing
Facts about Olives
Olive trees can live a very long time. Some olive trees in the Near East are thought to be more than 2,000 years old.
If an olive tree is chopped down, it does not die, but new shoots come up from the roots.
Olive trees keep their leaves all year round.
Olive oil was used anciently for lamp oil, cooking oil, food, soap, religious ceremonies, and ointment for treating wounds.
Example of an Olive Press
Crushing basin
Crushing stone
Groove
Axis
Handle