Why has the olive tree become a symbol of victory, honor and peace? One answer lies in the olive wreath awarded at the ancient Olympic Games; another lies in the branch’s long cultural use as an image of reconciliation.
The ancient Olympic wreath
Victors at the ancient Olympic Games received a wreath of wild olive known as the kotinos. The prize carried honor for the athlete and community. Its significance came from the Games’ traditions, not the monetary value of the leaves. The Athens 2004 Olympic Games explanatory book describes the wreath as the prize for ancient Olympic champions.
A broader symbol of peace
An olive branch has also been used as a sign of peace or reconciliation. Ideas of freedom and a sacred tree belong to different cultural traditions, so the symbol has no single literal origin story. The ancient wreath remains a particularly clear example of the olive’s association with honor.
The tree’s form can give these ideas a visible presence in a garden or home. Its symbolism is one reason to choose it; the individual tree still needs a suitable place and ongoing care.
For the wider cultural story, read what the olive tree has symbolized across traditions.