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The image of bees is often found in the heritage of various cultures and civilizations. Bees in art are an unusually versatile symbol. It embodies wisdom, fertility, diligence, frugality, order, purity and chastity. In some traditions the bee was a symbol of the sky and the stars and it also participated in the creation of the world, coming on the side of gods against the evil.
On the other hand, the bee and honey are closely linked with the other world, the cult of the dead and funeral rites. At the same time the bees depicted on the tombs meant immortality and resurrection, possibly because the hibernation of bees was interpreted as their temporary death. In the Greek, the Aryan, the Middle Eastern and the Islamic traditions the bees were an allegory of the soul.
Bee swarm means earth, the soul of earth, protection and motherhood, hard work and thrift. A number of positive symbolic meanings are associated with a bee hive: a regulated society, wisdom, eloquence. Bee and honey are universal symbols of the poetic word, moreover - the poetry. In the Greek and Roman traditions, the poets often compare themselves with the bees.
In myths the bee is often an attribute or one of the incarnations of the Great Mother. The bee was associated with Cybele, Artemis (Diana), Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite, and their priestesses were called "bees". Later, the bee was the emblem of the Virgin Mary. These ancient ideas can explain some expressions which have reached our time: the Ukrainians called the bee "holy", the Germans gave it the name "The Bird of God" and "The Bird of Mary”.
In some traditions the bee is connected with the Thunder God, as well as with the oak, representing both the world tree and the tree of the thunderer. Often the bees are the symbol of supreme power. It symbolized royal power or the monarchical system in the ancient Middle East, in Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt. The ideal system of society in its monarchical form was often correlated with a bee hive.
The Egyptians considered the bee the emblem of Lower Egypt. It is a provider of life, a symbol of birth, death and resurrection, harmonious life, diligence and chastity. However, the bee was also the symbol of imperial power, particular vital force, royal wisdom accrued in the same way as bees collect nectar.
In ancient India, the bee was the symbol of Indra, Vishnu, Krishna, Shiva. Blue Bee on a forehead is a sign of Krishna, on the lotus – of Vishnu, above the triangle – of Shiva. The bow string of Kama, the God of Love, is made of bees that embody the “sweet torture”, and behind him there is always a line of bees. In “Atharvaveda” spiritual knowledge is likened to the honey production of bees.
In the Hittite myths the bee saved the world from drought by finding the missing son of Telepinusa, the God of Fertility.
The Greeks considered bees the symbol of hard work, prosperity, purity, immortality. Bee theme determines many features of the structure and design of the ancient temples (e.g., the temple of Artemis at Ephesus). Artemis herself was seen as a sacred image of the bee, Demeter was called "Pure Mother Bee, the Great Mother – “The Queen Bee”. People in Epidamne which was rich with honey especially revered the ancestress of bees, nymph Melissa.
The bees were regarded as the guardians of eloquence and singing, “birds of the Muses”. Cretan Zeus was born in the bee hollow and was reared by the bees. In Greece a form of the hive was often used for burials. It was assumed that this has the connection with immortality. In addition, it was believed that souls can be reincarnated in bees.
The Pythian prophetess was called “The Delphic Bee”. Bees were attributed to the ability of divination. According to the Delphic tradition, they erected the second temple at Delphi.
In the Orphic teachings bees were considered the embodiment of the soul, because they move in a swarm, like souls separate from the divine One in a swarm as it was believed by the Orphics.
The Celts believed bees had a secret wisdom, coming from another world. The Germans described the air filled with the souls of the dead as “The Bee Way”.
Bees in art
The image of bees is often found in the heritage of various cultures and civilizations. Bees in art are an unusually versatile symbol. It embodies wisdom, fertility, diligence, frugality, order, purity and chastity. In some traditions the bee was a symbol of the sky and the stars and it also participated in the creation of the world, coming on the side of gods against the evil.
On the other hand, the bee and honey are closely linked with the other world, the cult of the dead and funeral rites. At the same time the bees depicted on the tombs meant immortality and resurrection, possibly because the hibernation of bees was interpreted as their temporary death. In the Greek, the Aryan, the Middle Eastern and the Islamic traditions the bees were an allegory of the soul.
Bee swarm means earth, the soul of earth, protection and motherhood, hard work and thrift. A number of positive symbolic meanings are associated with a bee hive: a regulated society, wisdom, eloquence. Bee and honey are universal symbols of the poetic word, moreover - the poetry. In the Greek and Roman traditions, the poets often compare themselves with the bees.
In myths the bee is often an attribute or one of the incarnations of the Great Mother. The bee was associated with Cybele, Artemis (Diana), Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite, and their priestesses were called "bees". Later, the bee was the emblem of the Virgin Mary. These ancient ideas can explain some expressions which have reached our time: the Ukrainians called the bee "holy", the Germans gave it the name "The Bird of God" and "The Bird of Mary”.
In some traditions the bee is connected with the Thunder God, as well as with the oak, representing both the world tree and the tree of the thunderer. Often the bees are the symbol of supreme power. It symbolized royal power or the monarchical system in the ancient Middle East, in Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt. The ideal system of society in its monarchical form was often correlated with a bee hive.
The Egyptians considered the bee the emblem of Lower Egypt. It is a provider of life, a symbol of birth, death and resurrection, harmonious life, diligence and chastity. However, the bee was also the symbol of imperial power, particular vital force, royal wisdom accrued in the same way as bees collect nectar.
In ancient India, the bee was the symbol of Indra, Vishnu, Krishna, Shiva. Blue Bee on a forehead is a sign of Krishna, on the lotus – of Vishnu, above the triangle – of Shiva. The bow string of Kama, the God of Love, is made of bees that embody the “sweet torture”, and behind him there is always a line of bees. In “Atharvaveda” spiritual knowledge is likened to the honey production of bees.
In the Hittite myths the bee saved the world from drought by finding the missing son of Telepinusa, the God of Fertility.
The Greeks considered bees the symbol of hard work, prosperity, purity, immortality. Bee theme determines many features of the structure and design of the ancient temples (e.g., the temple of Artemis at Ephesus). Artemis herself was seen as a sacred image of the bee, Demeter was called "Pure Mother Bee, the Great Mother – “The Queen Bee”. People in Epidamne which was rich with honey especially revered the ancestress of bees, nymph Melissa.
The bees were regarded as the guardians of eloquence and singing, “birds of the Muses”. Cretan Zeus was born in the bee hollow and was reared by the bees. In Greece a form of the hive was often used for burials. It was assumed that this has the connection with immortality. In addition, it was believed that souls can be reincarnated in bees.
The Pythian prophetess was called “The Delphic Bee”. Bees were attributed to the ability of divination. According to the Delphic tradition, they erected the second temple at Delphi.
In the Orphic teachings bees were considered the embodiment of the soul, because they move in a swarm, like souls separate from the divine One in a swarm as it was believed by the Orphics.
The Celts believed bees had a secret wisdom, coming from another world. The Germans described the air filled with the souls of the dead as “The Bee Way”.
In Christianity, thanks to its diligence, the bee has become a symbol of activity, diligence, industriousness, order and religious rhetoric. As it was said about the Saints, famous for their speeches, such as St. Ambrose and St. John Chrysostom, their words were as sweet as honey. St. Ambrose compared Church with the hive and Christians - with bees, which work tirelessly and remain loyal to their hive. Thus a beehive is a symbol of a united religious community and it means a regulated and pious community. In Christianity the bee, which never sleeps as it is believed, symbolizes a zeal and vigilance. The bee flying in the air is the soul which enters into the kingdom of heaven. Believing that the bees live only with the scent of flowers made them a symbol of purity and abstinence.
The article is based on the facts derived from the website «The New Acropol»
