In Greece and Italy 279 



" To whom the prophetess, seeing his neck now bristle with 

 horrid snakes, flings a soporific cake of honey and medi- 

 cated grain. He, in the mad rage of hunger, opening 

 his three mouths, snatches the offered morsel, and, spread 

 on the ground, relaxes his monstrous limbs, and is extended 

 at vast length over all the cave." 



Offerings of honey were made to the household gods, as 

 is illustrated in one of the " Elegies " of Tibullus. 



" Or dulcet cakes himself the farmer paid, 

 When crown'd his wishes by your powerful aid ; 

 While his fair daughter brought with her from home 

 The luscious offering of a honey-comb.'' 



In fact, honey forms a part of the sacrifices made to 

 most of the members of the Greek and Latin pantheon, 

 a supposed cause, as we remember, of its prohibition as 

 a sacrifice by the Hebrews. 



Particularly to the gods and goddesses of the fields and 

 gardens was honey a necessary offering, for it formed, as 

 we shall see later, a very important part of the wealth 

 of the agriculturist, and was a valued article of nutriment. 



It continually appears in connection with flour and milk 

 and wine as offerings to the gods, the flour symbolizing 

 the nutrient plant world, the milk the nutrient animal 

 world, and honey the ethereal sweet gift of the gods. 



Priapos, the special protector of fields and gardens, 

 received the first-fruits of the field and libations of wine 

 and honey. He was supposed to be the son of Dionysos 

 and Aphrodite ; fertility in plants and animals was ascribed 

 to him, and he protected herds, bee-hives, and fishing nets. 



Pan, also the god of the fields, received his share of 

 homage — and honey offerings. 



Thus sings the Shepherd Comatas in one of the " Idyls 

 of Theocritus " : — 



" Nay, but an if thou wilt come, thou shalt tread here the 



