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 Olive oil was a fundamental part of the ancient world, and not only in the kitchen. Considered precious, it was more than a mere agricultural product; for ancient peoples, it represented the blessing of the gods. The emperors used olive oil as a sacred offering, their ceremonies and coronations consecrated with it. Even today, Roman catholic ceremonies use pure olive oil in baptisms and for the last rites. In a less religious vein, perfumed oil was used by the Greeks and Romans to massage the body after bathing or to warm up muscles before exercise and participation in sporting competitions. Oil was also used to fuel torches and lamps, experiencing a great boom in 18th-century Europe, when the population began to use brighter light, for longer periods. the need grew with the onset of the industrial age, as olive oil was also used to lubricate machinery. It has always been an integral part of cooking, from the earliest days, The ancients believed prolonged use of olive oil in cooking ensured a longer life -- a hypothesis generally supported by modern medicine.
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