The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and FolkloreHilda Ransome's well-documented and copiously illustrated study of bees points out that no creature has provided man with so much wholesome food; nor has any inspired so many beliefs and superstitions. Illustrations depict bees, hives, and beekeepers as they appear in paintings and sculpture, on coins, jewelry, and Mayan glyphs; and carved into African tree trunks. Chapters cover the folklore of bees and bee culture — from Egyptian, Babylonian, and other ancient sources to practices in modern Europe. The use of honey in religious rites, as well as customs and superstitions in France and Central Europe, folk stories from Finland, and the bee in America are also described. |
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Worth reading
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Excellent book. Visits so many aspects of life through our mysterious relationship with a very important insect. Some of the mythologies here really stirred me, and have been very fun to share with friends.
Contents
EARLY TIMES | 19 |
ANCIENT EGYPT | 24 |
SUMERIA BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA | 35 |
INDIA AND CHINA | 43 |
THE HITTITES WESTERN ASIA AND CRETE | 55 |
THE HEBREWS AND MOHAMMEDANS | 65 |
BEEKEEPING IN GREECE | 75 |
BEEKEEPING AMONG THE ROMANS | 83 |
BEES AND HONEY AMONG THE GERMANIC AND SLAVONIC PEOPLES IN CENTRAL EUROPE | 140 |
BEES AND HONEY AMONG THE GERMANIC AND SLAVONIC PEOPLES IN CENTRAL EUROPE | 155 |
FINLAND THE KALEVALA | 176 |
THE BRITISH ISLES | 189 |
THE BRITISH ISLES | 211 |
CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS IN FRANCE | 233 |
FOLKSTORIES FROM VARIOUS LANDS | 241 |
THE BEE IN AMERICA | 260 |
BEES AND HONEY IN GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHS | 91 |
THE OXBORN BEE | 112 |
HONEY IN GREEK RELIGIOUS RITES | 119 |
THE FOOD OF THE GODS | 133 |
RITUAL USES OF MILK AND HONEY | 275 |
PRIMITIVE PEOPLES OF TODAY | 285 |
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Common terms and phrases
ancient animals appears asked Assyria beekeeping bees belief birds body bring called carried century ceremony Chapter charm Christ Church collected comb connected considered creatures custom dead death drink early earth Egypt Egyptian English figures find first flowers fly four gathered gave give given gods Greek hand head hives honey Ibid illustrations important India interesting king known land later leave lived look Lord magic mead means mentioned milk milk and honey mother mouth myth noted offerings opened origin present probably quoted regarded relates represented rites Roman round sacred says seems settled shows song soul spirits sting story swarm sweet tells thee thou told took translation tree tribes wine woman wood writes written Zeus
Popular passages
Page 2 - KOREAN GAMES: WITH NOTES ON THE CORRESPONDING GAMES OF CHINA AND JAPAN, Stewart Culin.
References to this book
The Prehistoric Landscape and Iron Age Enclosed Settlement at Mingies Ditch ... T. G. Allen,Mark A. Robinson No preview available - 1993 |
Bee Products: Properties, Applications, and Apitherapy Avshalom Mizrahi,Yaacov Lensky No preview available - 1997 |
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore Dover Books on Anthropology and Folklore |
| Author | Hilda M. Ransome |
| Edition | illustrated, unabridged, reprint |
| Publisher | Courier Corporation, 2004 |
| ISBN | 048643494X, 9780486434940 |
| Length | 308 pages |
| Subjects | › History / Civilization Social Science / Folklore & Mythology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |