270 The Honey-Makers 



who, after having performed such things as are acceptable 

 to the gods, will again return to their kindred stars. For 

 this insect loves to return to the places from whence it first 

 came, and is eminently just and sober. Whence, also, the 

 libations which are made with honey are called sober." 



Porphyry, in a quotation from Sophocles, expresses the 

 belief that the souls of the departed escaped in the form of 

 bees, — 



" In swarms while wandering from the dead, 

 A humming sound is heard." 



The bees are also related to the sun god, and the priest- 

 esses of Apollo are called Melissse, the pythoness herself 

 being termed by Pindar the bee of Delphi, in one of his 

 Pythian odes : — 



" O blest son of Polymnestes, thee, agreeably to this pre- 

 diction, the oracle hath ennobled by the spontaneous voice 

 of the Delphic bee ; which, having three times bid thee hail, 

 proclaimed thee destined King of Cyrene, when thou wast 

 inquiring what help for impeded speech there shall be from 

 the gods." 



One of the oldest temples built to Apollo was constructed 

 by the bees, according to Pausanias, who thus tells the 

 story : — 



" Many things, indeed, are reported of the Delphi, and 

 particularly concerning the oracle of Apollo. For they 

 say that this oracle is the most ancient of any on the 

 earth." 



There were three temples raised to Apollo, one of brass, 

 one of branches of the laurel-tree, the third, says Pausanias, 

 " was raised by bees from wax and wings, and was sent by 

 Apollo to the Hyperboreans." 



Aristseus, the father of bee-culture, was the son of Apollo, 

 and an offering was brought to Apollo as the god of the 

 bees on the 24th of July. 



