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THE MUSEUM
OF THE OLIVE:
The museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil, in Sparta has
been founded and designed by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP),
which is also responsible for its operation and opened the doors to
the public in December 2002. It is housed in the renovated premises of the
old Electricity Company, which were made available by the Municipality of
Sparta. The project was included by the EU Second Framework, after
inclusion in the Regional Operational Programmers for the Peloponnesus
and the Museum operates under the direction of the Piraeus Bank Group
Cultural Foundation.
The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil is part of a network of thematic museums of technology created by
the Foundation, which comprises the Silk Museum at
Soufli,(1990), the Open – air Water – Power Museum at Dimitsana, Arcadia (1997), the Museum of Industrial
Olive Oil Production at Agia Paraskevi, on the island of Lesvos,
The Roof tile and Brickworks Museum at Volos, the
Museum of Marble Crafts, at Pyrgos on the island of Tinos and the Museum of Traditional Crafts and Environment of Stymfalia.
On the Museum's
upper floor the age-old history on the
two life-giving commodities, the olive and the olive oil, throughout
Greece is presented, while, at the same time, their multiform impact on
the country's life, in the fields of economy, diet hygiene, religious
ritual and folk customs is pointed out in graphic detail.
On the
ground floor the
presentation of the technological developments of the oil-mill in Greece
is continued, here the times from the Post-Byzantine period up to the
Twentieth century are covered. Various pieces of machinery that have been
preserved and/or restored, as well as large-scale working models that help
the visitor acquire some knowledge of the traditional techniques involved
in olive oil production, are on show.
The exhibition is supported by digital shows.
Further more, on the Museum's premises one can also find a cafe, a museum
shop and a multipurpose hall.
In the
outdoor exhibition the visitor will find
references to the civilization of the olive tree and the harvesting of the
olives as well as have the opportunity to examine from close up three
oil-presses that have been installed on the museum grounds, dating
respectively from Prehistoric, Classical and Byzantine times. During
educational workshops and programs, one can observe these presses in
operation.
The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil is the first
of its kind to be established in Greece. Following the example of
other Mediterranean countries, which have already established museums
and various other venues for promoting their own products, the Museum
aims- among other things - to bring to the attention of the public the
serious effort that is being made in Greece towards preserving the
technology involved in oil production in times past and to promote the
time less cultural role that the olive and the olive oil have played
in Greek society.
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