2,000-year-old olive tree discovered in the Ancient City of Teos, İzmir

Situated in the Ancient City of Teos in İzmir's Seferihisar district, the approximately 2,000-year-old olive tree is among the region's most significant living historical and natural symbols.

Historical Significance of the Ancient City of Teos

Located within the borders of the Sığacık neighborhood in İzmir's Seferihisar district, the Ancient City of Teos stood out as an important center of science and culture in the 6th century BCE and during the Hellenistic Period. The city holds the distinction of being one of the 12 Ionian city-states of that era.

Today, the ancient city contains many important remains such as the Sanctuary of Dionysus, a theater, agora, bouleuterion, ancient harbors, and city walls. Archaeological excavation, documentation, and restoration works have been ongoing uninterrupted since 2010.

The Living Natural Heritage of the Ancient City

The Ancient City of Teos does not only host man-made historical artifacts; it also draws attention with its very old olive and terebinth trees. One of the most important pieces of this natural heritage is the Teos Ancient Olive Tree, which has a history of approximately 2,000 years.

It is estimated that the roots of this tree, whose approximate age is stated in official tourism resources, date back to the Roman Empire period. The specimen is currently preserved with the status of a potential monumental tree.

İzmir's Deep-Rooted Olive History

This special tree in Teos constitutes a much broader part of the olive culture across İzmir. According to Visit İzmir data, it is estimated that there are 68 olive trees ranging in age from 300 to 2,000 across the Peninsula.

One of the most concrete pieces of evidence of olive history in the region is located in the Ancient City of Klazomenai in Urla. Dating back to the 6th century BCE, this site is known as one of the oldest facilities in the world where olive oil was produced on a factory scale.

The Convergence of Cultural and Natural Heritage

What makes the Teos Ancient Olive Tree unique is not just its estimated age, but its continued existence intertwined with thousands of years of archaeological remains. On one side are the ancient theater and agora, while on the other are trees rooted in the same soil.

Thanks to this extraordinary union, cultural heritage and natural heritage meet within the same area in Teos, and the region's historical fabric is reinforced with natural elements.