The Olive and Greek Oil Museum (MEEL) in Sparta aims to highlight the culture and technology of the olive and olive oil production, which is inextricably linked to the Greek and, in general, the Mediterranean identity.
On the upper floor are presented the first testimonies (material remains, written references) about the olive in the Greek area, its contribution to the economy, from prehistoric times to the 20th century, its role in nutrition, body care (beautification, pharmaceuticals uses), lighting, while special reference is made to the symbolic dimension it assumes in religion, mythology, morals and customs. The section closes with a brief presentation of the place of the olive in art.
The lower floor is dedicated to olive oil production technology from antiquity to the 20th century.
In the semi-outdoor Exhibition, the visitor can see the mechanisms of a prehistoric, a Hellenistic and a Byzantine oil press, which can be put into operation as part of the museum's educational programs. Mechanisms and animated models illustrate the various stages of olive production and the evolution of the corresponding technology over time. The Exhibition is completed with a section dedicated to soap making.
The museum's exhibition showcases relevant products from local producers, while the ambition of the Museum of Olive and Greek Oil is to be a living organization that contributes to sustainable development, referring visitors to the Olive Roads.
The Museum of Olive and Greek Oil was opened to the public at the end of 2002. It is housed in the building of the old Electric Company of Sparta, which belongs to the Municipality of Sparta. The building was in very poor condition, so only its facade was preserved, while the rest of the building was built from scratch, based on modern museum standards. Many of the exhibits are donations or loans from residents of the wider area in which the relevant research was conducted.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou