Olea oleaster, or wild olive, is a subspecies of the cultivated olive tree, Olea europea. Originating in the Mediterranean Basin, it is considered an ancestor to the modern olive, which was likely domesticated during the fourth and third millennia BCE from multiple local populations.
The wild olive (Ancient Greek κότινος / kótinos), which ancient Greeks distinguished from the cultivated olive (ἐλαία / ἐλἀα), was used to fashion the olive wreath awarded victors at the ancient Olympic games. The ancient and sacred wild olive tree of Olympia stood near the Temple of Zeus, patron of the games.