Invigorating, cosmetic and antibacterial. Olive oil for sports massage and grooming
The ancient Greek athletes, starting with the Minoans, before they started their workout, would smear their bodies with olive oil. This helped them to warm up and flex their muscles. At the same time, it protected them from dust and the sun, preventing the loss of fluids during exercise. Of course, the aesthetic result of the glittering well – built and attractive bodies, setting a sports role model, was a pleasant byproduct of the racing spectacle. After their workout, they would remove the olive oil, along with any dust and sweat, using a special tool they called “stlengis” (strigil).
In the same way, they would use it for personal hygiene purposes or for massages, whenever, after their games or a battle, they felt like resting and invigorating their muscles. They would even use a scented version of it, for their hair and clothes. These practices have now been scientifically explained, as we are aware of the antibacterial, anti-aging and soothing properties of olive oil for the skin and hair.
Fun Fact: Democritus attached great importance to smearing the body with oil to maintain health. In fact, when asked how one can be healthy, he would reply: “By soaking one’s insides with honey and one’s outsides with oil”.
The Minoans were acquainted with the use of olive oil as a means of beautification, as evidenced by Linear B tablets. In fact, they would produce olive oils especially for body application, enriched with essential oils of aromatic herbs and plants, such as rose, sage, coriander, elder tree and tigernuts, called “Fealefes”(«Fεαλεφές»), that is, suitable for use on the body. Their main consumers were the Egyptians.
