Honey: Difference between revisions
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==Significance== | ==Significance== | ||
In ancient [[Greece]], honey was considered a 'gift from gods', as its origins were not fully understood despite beekeeping being a part of the daily life of Greeks ever since the [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] times.<ref name="Honey">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#Argolis|Argolis: Honey]]</ref | In ancient [[Greece]], honey was considered a 'gift from [[Greek mythology|gods]]', as its origins were not fully understood despite beekeeping being a part of the daily life of Greeks ever since the [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] times. Due to its mystery, honey was considered a kind of a panacea and was widely used as medicine.<ref name="Honey">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#Argolis|Argolis: Honey]]</ref> The Greek goddess [[Hygieia]] was also considered to have such a presence that ''"all venom turns to sweet honey"'' within her sight.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | ||
Numerous poets, including [[Hesiod]], [[Homer]], and [[Virgil]] mention honey and bees, beehives in their works, with Virgil even going as far as dedicating an ode to beekeeping in his ''{{Wiki|Georgics}}''.<ref name="Honey" /> | Numerous poets, including [[Hesiod]], [[Homer]], and [[Virgil]] mention honey and bees, beehives in their works, with Virgil even going as far as dedicating an ode to beekeeping in his ''{{Wiki|Georgics}}''.<ref name="Honey" /> | ||
[[File:ACO-UdjatApiary-beehives.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Beehives at the Udjat Apiary]] | [[File:ACO-UdjatApiary-beehives.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Beehives at the Udjat Apiary]] | ||
Honey was greatly | Honey was greatly value and could be used as currency while trading, or when paying tributes, like [[Corsica|Korsika]] did to {{Wiki|Etruscans}}.<ref name="Honey" /> | ||
During the [[Peloponnesian War]], [[Mount Hymettos]] in [[Attika]], Greece was known for its honey as well as its [[marble]].<ref>'' | During the [[Peloponnesian War]], [[Mount Hymettos]] in [[Attika]], Greece was known for its honey as well as its [[marble]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations]] – Attika: Statue of Zeus at Mt. Hymettos</ref> | ||
As a side product of honey, beeswax was also used. In myths, [[Odysseus]] was said to have ordered his men to put beeswax in their ears to prevent their deaths by the song of the [[Siren (mythology)|sirens]].<ref>'' | As a side product of honey, beeswax was also used. In myths, [[Odysseus]] was said to have ordered his men to put beeswax in their ears to prevent their deaths by the song of the [[Siren (mythology)|sirens]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – Kephallonia: Odysseus and the Sirens</ref> This trick was also suggested by [[Barnabas]] to the [[Sparta]]n ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] during the Peloponnesian War, when their search for Barnabas' wife, [[Leda (Barnabas' wife)|Leda]], seemed to take them to a lair of the sirens.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Odyssey Into the Past]]</ref> | ||
In the 1st century BCE [[Egypt]], the village of [[Kerke]] in [[Atef-Pehu Nome]] was famous for its honey farms, but the [[Udjat Apiary]] excelled in it.<ref name="ACO" /> | In the 1st century BCE [[Egypt]], the village of [[Kerke]] in [[Atef-Pehu Nome]] was famous for its honey farms, but the [[Udjat Apiary]] excelled in it.<ref name="ACO" /> In [[Alexandria]], the sarcophagus contained in the [[Tomb of Alexander the Great|Tomb]] of [[Alexander the Great]] was said to be filled with honey, in the belief that it helped preserve the soul before its journey to the [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian afterlife]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Aya: Blade of the Goddess]]</ref> | ||
==Mythology== | ==Mythology== | ||
Due to the observed 'supernatural' nature of honey, it left its mark in the mythology of Greece as well. A [[nymph]] named {{Wiki|Melissa#Mythology|Melissa}} was said to have been the very first to discover and harvest honey. When the [[Titan]] [[Rhea]] hid her son [[Zeus]] from his father [[Kronos]] on [[Mount Ida]] in [[Messara]], [[Krete]], Melissa took care of the infant together with her sister [[Adrestia (deity)| | Due to the observed 'supernatural' nature of honey, it left its mark in the mythology of Greece as well. A [[nymph]] named {{Wiki|Melissa#Mythology|Melissa}} was said to have been the very first to discover and harvest honey. When the [[Titan]] [[Rhea]] hid her son [[Zeus]] from his father [[Kronos]] on [[Mount Ida]] in [[Messara]], [[Krete]], Melissa took care of the infant together with her sister [[Adrestia (deity)|Adresteia]]. Melissa was also connected with the goddess [[Demeter]], into whose [[Eleusinian Mysteries|mysteries]] she was inducted.<ref name="Significance">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece'' – Argolis: The Mythological Significance of Honey</ref> | ||
Due to the nymph, priestesses of mystery cults in the Greek world were often called ''Melissai'', and honey was a valued offering to make to the gods.<ref name="Significance" /> | Due to the nymph, priestesses of mystery cults in the Greek world were often called ''Melissai'', and honey was a valued offering to make to the gods.<ref name="Significance" /> | ||
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In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'', myths about a woman named Melissa have been conflated with the nymph being also the priestess of Demeter.<ref name="Significance" /> | In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'', myths about a woman named Melissa have been conflated with the nymph being also the priestess of Demeter.<ref name="Significance" /> | ||
[[Periander]], the tyrant of [[Korinth]], called his wife Lyside 'Melissa'. In ''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' this is acknowledged via a [[Monument of Melissa|monument]] for her located in [[Hera's Watch]] in [[Argolis]], [[Greece]].<ref>'' | [[Periander]], the tyrant of [[Korinth]], called his wife Lyside 'Melissa'. In ''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' this is acknowledged via a [[Monument of Melissa|monument]] for her located in [[Hera's Watch]] in [[Argolis]], [[Greece]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – Historical Locations – Argolis: Monument of Melissa</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
Revision as of 17:06, 26 March 2021
Honey is a sweet a substance produced by bees and other similar insects.
Significance
In ancient Greece, honey was considered a 'gift from gods', as its origins were not fully understood despite beekeeping being a part of the daily life of Greeks ever since the Minoan times. Due to its mystery, honey was considered a kind of a panacea and was widely used as medicine.[1] The Greek goddess Hygieia was also considered to have such a presence that "all venom turns to sweet honey" within her sight.[2]
Numerous poets, including Hesiod, Homer, and Virgil mention honey and bees, beehives in their works, with Virgil even going as far as dedicating an ode to beekeeping in his Georgics.[1]
Honey was greatly value and could be used as currency while trading, or when paying tributes, like Korsika did to Etruscans.[1]
During the Peloponnesian War, Mount Hymettos in Attika, Greece was known for its honey as well as its marble.[3]
As a side product of honey, beeswax was also used. In myths, Odysseus was said to have ordered his men to put beeswax in their ears to prevent their deaths by the song of the sirens.[4] This trick was also suggested by Barnabas to the Spartan misthios Kassandra during the Peloponnesian War, when their search for Barnabas' wife, Leda, seemed to take them to a lair of the sirens.[5]
In the 1st century BCE Egypt, the village of Kerke in Atef-Pehu Nome was famous for its honey farms, but the Udjat Apiary excelled in it.[2] In Alexandria, the sarcophagus contained in the Tomb of Alexander the Great was said to be filled with honey, in the belief that it helped preserve the soul before its journey to the Egyptian afterlife.[6]
Mythology
Due to the observed 'supernatural' nature of honey, it left its mark in the mythology of Greece as well. A nymph named Melissa was said to have been the very first to discover and harvest honey. When the Titan Rhea hid her son Zeus from his father Kronos on Mount Ida in Messara, Krete, Melissa took care of the infant together with her sister Adresteia. Melissa was also connected with the goddess Demeter, into whose mysteries she was inducted.[7]
Due to the nymph, priestesses of mystery cults in the Greek world were often called Melissai, and honey was a valued offering to make to the gods.[7]
Behind the scenes
In Greek, Μέλισσᾰ (mélissa) is the word for "(honey) bee", and poetically used for honey itself; it is derived from the Greek word [1] (méli), meaning 'honey, sweet'.
In Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, myths about a woman named Melissa have been conflated with the nymph being also the priestess of Demeter.[7]
Periander, the tyrant of Korinth, called his wife Lyside 'Melissa'. In Assassin's Creed: Odyssey this is acknowledged via a monument for her located in Hera's Watch in Argolis, Greece.[8]
Gallery
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A man gathering honey from a hive in 5th century BCE Greece -
An offering of honey on an altar in 5th century BCE Greece -
A jar of honey in ancient Greece -
A bottle of honey sold in Colonial America
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Argolis: Honey
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Historical Locations – Attika: Statue of Zeus at Mt. Hymettos
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Kephallonia: Odysseus and the Sirens
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Odyssey Into the Past
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Aya: Blade of the Goddess
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Argolis: The Mythological Significance of Honey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Historical Locations – Argolis: Monument of Melissa