An article I found on Italiancookingandliving.com about olive oil...
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Olive Oil - Its Cosmetic and Curative Powers
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olive branches
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Ancient Greeks and Romans used olive oil for the care of their bodies. Almost all men and women, young or old, sick or healthy, rich or poor, used it a few times a day. Oil was spread all over the body before and after bathing. At first its function was only that of soap, then it was used as an moisturizer, enriched with aromas obtained from herbs and flowers.
Those with dry hair and skin were considered dirty; for this reason people bathed and moisturized their entire bodies with oil at least once a day in order to cultivate a healthy appearance. At first these unguents obtained from the combination of olive oil and herbs or flowers were imported from the Orient, then they were produced in Greece and later on in the Roman Empire. Typically, a noblewoman would bathe three times a day, while a Greek playboy would bathe at least five times.
The Egyptians manufactured perfumes and ointments of all types, and Cleopatra was known for using perfumes and cosmetics of all types. Many of them used olive oil as a base, usually from colorless, tasteless, unscented olives picked well before they were ripe (about three months too early), in August.
Initially, Ancient Romans used oil only during sacrifices, but it soon became a fundamental part of Roman life. People washed with oil at least three times daily or rubbed themselves with olive oil and removed the excess with a strigil — a stick used for the purpose — leaving a thin, protective film on the skin, protecting it from dirt and cold.
This care of the body also had a practical reason: oil forms a protective film over the skin thus protecting the pores from the infiltration of dirt and dust. In addition, oil is a bad thermal conductor, thus protecting the skin from the cold and the sun's rays. The numerous containers for olive oil made of different materials like gold, silver, marble, ivory, or wood, confirms the ancient cult for cleanliness and the use of emulsifiers.
It is not clear if the silver vase above, decorated with olive branches and olives, was used as a container for aromatic oils, edible olive oil, olives or wine. Preserved at Naples National Museum, the vase was found with 118 other pieces that were part of a dining set recovered in the excavation of the Menander House in Pompeii. The vase dates back to the Imperial period and was buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius which took place in the 1st century. Olive oil wasn't used only for the production of aromatic moisturizer, but also as an ointment for wounds and curative pomades. Such ointments were used to treat bleeding wounds, insect bites, and burns, headaches, tired eyes or any other part of the body that needed to be disinfected. It was also used in cases of poisoning, stomach problems and even pregnancy. In the Bible Moses uses olive oil to cure lepers.