The cave referenced to in the Bible, where Jesus spent his last moments as a free man and where he was delivered by Judas (known as the Grotto of Gethsemane), was originally an oil mill.
Not only that, Gethsemane means «Oil Press», (Gath-press / Shemen-oil), referring to olive oil, which is so often mentioned in the Bible and which is so important in the history of mankind.
The grotto was used as an olive oil mill. Due to its natural qualities, it maintained a perfect geothermal energy that contribute to the oil quality by stabilizing the temperature, at the same time that it optimized the realization of the construction.
The Franciscans came into possession of the cave in 1361 and currently maintain that property. Following a flood in 1955, the cave underwent a series of archaeological excavations that began to recuperate it and reveal many new discoveries that would deepen our knowledge of the site itself.
The grotto measures 19×10 meters. It has always maintained a natural appearance, despite the many changes it has undergone. In the beginning, it must have been an agricultural space, with cisterns and water channels and perhaps an oil press. From the 4th century onwards, it became a rock church with a funerary purpose. In the Crusader period, its vault was decorated with star paintings and evangelical scenes.