Pre-heat oven to 500 Rinse chicken, inside and out with cool water and pat dry. Remove excess fat from around the edges of the chicken cavity then place the half onion and garlic cloves inside the cavity.

Put the chicken into a roasting pan. Brush outside of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle the thyme, oregano, salt and pepper over the skin surface. Place the pan on the middle rack of the pre-heated oven.

Immediately reduce the oven heat to 350 F and roast the chicken for about one hour. Baste the chicken with the pan drippings and return to the oven for about another ½ hr or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F (test both white and dark meat areas).