Mythology 

Mythology  8  

Homer and Hesiod, reports of wild bee colonies in caves or trees. In the classical and Hellenistic period the information became more and more a real systematic involvement of beekeeping, especially in rural areas.
There were 41 (!!!) names for the container for storage or transport of honey. The honey trade was flourishing and already really profitable.

On numerous coins that were found, bees and bee products are shown. Starting from the town of Meliti in Thessaly (early 4th century BC. BC.) currencies with bees pictures have been found in Crete, Kea, in Ephesus and in Sicily.

Excavations have brought rich material for bee attitude, such as "artificial honeycomb" (horizontal and vertical), which were introduced especially in clay.

The trading price of honey in the 3rd century BC was 16 and 37 drachmas of silver per "meters" or 9 obols and drachmas per 3 ½ "Counter". ("Counter" = measuring honeypots).