Jerusalem: Garden of Gethsemane in 1898
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The Garden of Gethsemane is closely associated with olive-growing because of the ancient olive trees that are still located there. There are, to be specific, eight ancient trees, each between six and eight meters in circumference. There are also numerous plots and pots of flowers.
It must be remembered, however, that the entire area was probably covered with olive trees, thus the name "Mount of Olives." This location was likely the spot where an olive press was located, thus the Hebrew name "olive press." Today, though, the entire area is mostly barren and desolate.
This may be due in part to the siege of Jerusalem led by Titus in 70 CE. According to Josephus, Titus had every tree around Jerusalem cut down for a distance of 15 kilometers. The trees currently in the Garden of Gethsemane thus could not possibly be the same that would have been here during the time of Jesus. It is plausible, however, that one or more could have grown from a stump left by Titus.
