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The bee exists on our planet since the Tertiary period at the beginning of the Cenozoic, ie. 65 million years ago. That was long before the
first humans appeared. We assume that already at this time the bee produced honey. So it can be assumed that up from this time - almost the 16th century AD, -
the only natural sweety (without machining) of the "known" world has been the honey. The beginning of the Greek beekeeping is lost in the past of the
mythical age.
It is written in the Odyssey (R-519) that the alloy groups feasted with honey milk that has been hailed as a very fine drink. Even the orphaned
daughters of Pindar were (lt. Odyssey) nurtured by the goddess Aphrodite with cheese and honey wine. The sorceress Circe spoiled with the same food,
the companions of Odysseus, they were "charmed" and were therefore unable to act wisely. (K-213).
The earliest information about the preference of the ancient Greeks for the bee, we can see from the works of Hesiod, who has to qualify as one
of the best portrayer of Greek agriculture. From the traditions of Hesiod, it is clear that the ancient Greeks arched honey pots and the various
species of bees were known early. Hesiod tells in laudatory way about the diligence of the worker bees, while he blames the sluggishness and
appetite of the drones.
During excavations at Phaistos (Crete) hives were found. These were made of clay and came from the Minoan period (3400 BC.). Even Homer mentioned
already the bees.There are also jewelry made of gold (eg, gold pendant, with two bees), a comb made of vitrified clay pipe-cells; and other gold trinkets
in the form of bees. All of these jewels have been found during excavations at Knossos.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle is known as the first researcher on scientific studies of bees. He wrote all his findings down in the animal science.
soures: The bee in ancient times (DE)
Meli Malisiova
apiculture | agriculture
