[pjungwir]

It is said that Solon, the most revered law-giver of Athens, made cutting an olive tree punishable by death. I've also heard that because of their slow growth, planting an olive tree is something you do not for yourself but for your children.

EDIT: one more bit of historical perspective. Myth says that Athena and Poseidon had a contest to see who would be the patron of Athens. Poseidon gave the gift of a saltwater spring (to which I guess the Athenians said, "uhh, thanks, I guess."). Athena gave the gift of the olive tree. Obviously Athens is named after her. So that's how much they valued those trees.

[thinkingtoilet]

My family is Sicilian and I don't think people understand how much olive trees mean to us. We have family in Sicily and if you did something to harm their olive trees it would be one small step below doing something to harm a family member.

[pazimzadeh]

That's interesting. What should the modern punishment be for this?

Israel’s Campaign Against Palestinian Olive Trees

http://yris.yira.org/global-issue/6018

https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-settlers-destroy-350-tr...

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/6/our-hearts-burn...

https://archive.ph/nkfc3

[ogogmad]

Thanks for sharing this. Looking into Kedumim Settlement.

[selcuka]

> I've also heard that because of their slow growth, planting an olive tree is something you do not for yourself but for your children.

I believe that's said because the olive trees live for a long time (hundreds of years), not because they grow slowly. They reach maturity in less than 10 years, producing around 40 kg of olives, so if you are not very old you would probably see the fruits of the tree you planted.

[supertofu]

"The good man plants a tree whose fruit will be tasted by his grandson" is a proverb I came across once about date trees. There are a few varieties of this for various precious trees which can take generations to bear reliable fruit.

[sdenton4]

Not very old and don't get bombed off the farm...

[ASalazarMX]

Salt was pretty valuable back then. Poseidon wasn't misguided, but I guess Greeks had enough saltwater around for it to be specially convenient.