Ancient Olive Oil: Experts Were WRONG

Beyond the Lamps: Why Ancient Olive Oil Was the “Extra Virgin” Secret of Empires For generations, the image of ancient olive oil has been rather unappetizing. Picture it: a crude, rancid substance, primarily relegated to fueling lamps, greasing bodies for hygiene, or perhaps for industrial tasks. Historians and archaeologists, for decades, confidently painted a picture of ancient civilizations lacking the technological sophistication to produce anything close to the delightful, golden elixir we cherish today as extra virgin olive oil. They were wrong. ...

July 22, 2026 · 18 min · Rajat Sapkota