The Goddess and the Bee
By Tara L. Reynolds

The bee has been associated with the Goddess andPriestesses of the Goddess for thousands of years. The most famous culture thatworshiped the bee was the Minoan culture on the island of Crete. As a symbol ofThe Mother Goddess, bees represented fertility and healing. Since honey hasantibacterial properties, it was used in many healing remedies, this made honeysacred. It was also used during ritual by the Bee Priestesses who were calledmelissae which means "bees". There was a golden seal found buried inCrete, that shows Priestesses dressed as bees dancing together. The photo picturedabove is the famous Minoan Bee Pendant, showing two bees carrying nectar backto there hives, and is dated 2000 BCE

In the book The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of anImage, by Anne Baring and Jules Cashford, write that "Bees have an ancientreputation as the bringers of order, and their hives served as models fororganizing temples in many Mediterranean cultures." The tombs at Myceneawere shaped like beehives, as well as the omphalos at Delphi where the famousOracle at Delphi recited her prophecies.

In Knossos, jars were found which contained honey, andwere said to be used during summer festivals. Honey was known as "thenectar of the Gods" in the ancient world and was seen as sacred all theway back to Neolithic times. The Bee was said to be viewed as a Mother Goddessand creator of life. Since bees gather nectar from flowers, and then createthis wonderfully healing, sweet and sacred substance, they were highly revered.In the Homeric hymn to the God Apollo, it is said that his gift of prophecycame to him from three bee maidens. The Bee was also revered in other culturessuch as in ancient Egypt. The Bee was associated with Kingship in ancientEgypt, it is said that there was even a bee King. In the ancient Mayan world,bee motifs were found, as honey was seen as food of the Gods.

Goddesses associated with the bee are Persephone,Demeter, Artemis, Aphrodite, Rhea, Cybele and Potnia Theron, which is theCretan "Mistress of Animals". In Ephesus where the remains of theTemple of Artemis was found along with the great statue, Artemis of Ephesus,there were bee motifs found on the statues legs and waist. Statues of theAnatolian Goddess, some believe Cybele originated in Anatolia, were shown withthe Goddess wearing what looks like a beehive on her head. Possibly as somekind of crown, as some ancient Priestesses were sometimes called "TheQueen Bee"

As you can see the bee was a sacred and highly reveredanimal in the ancient world, along with their highly prized honey. We shouldhonor the bees as well today as givers of life as they pollinate our crops andgive us food. Is it said to me to hear of all the bee deaths over the recentyears. As followers of the Goddess and worshipers of nature, we need to behonoring animals in the same way the ancient priestesses before us did.

To attract bees to your garden plant things such asdaisies, marigold, bee balm, echinacea, foxglove, goldenrod and lavender. Ihope you enjoyed learning about the ancient reverence of bees and their sacrednectar!

Writer, artist, researcher and student of the ancientmysteries. Finding the path of the Goddess has brought me to my way in life.All of my inspiration comes from Her mysteries, and the cultures in which Shewas worshiped. I'm currently working on becoming an independent scholar in thefield of Neolithic and ancient cultures, mostly as they pertain to the Goddess.As well as working to be come an author to teach other women of Her mysteries,because all women need the power of the Goddess. I hope you enjoy my writings!

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