Olives are a ubiquitous sight at Middle Eastern tables, served as a side dish at breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as cooked in dishes.  Cured olives are frequently marinated in various aromatics to create new layers of flavor.  These spicy olives are a popular part of many Middle Eastern mezes.  Residents of the Mediterranean believe that the brine hides the true flavor of olives.  Therefore, they are generally rinsed (and sometimes soaked), then dressed to enhance their appeal.  The older the olives, the more porous they become and the more flavors they absorb.