Stinging Tales From Around the Globe Quiz

Answer: Rhoecus demanded it

It was said that dryads (wood nymphs) perished with the trees, and so this particular dryad's life was saved by Rhoecus, who ordered his men to prop up a dying oak. The dryad told Rhoecus that she would grant him one request. He boldly requested her love.

She told him that she would send a bee as her messenger to tell him when she was ready to embrace him. However, Rhoecus forgot about the bee's significance and brushed it away when it did appear. This ignorance was then punished by the dryad, who blinded Rhoecus.

Answer: Mead

Honey, as well as mead, has been called the nectar of the gods. The bee's act of converting nectar into honey was thought by the gods to be a selfless deed - hard work on the bee's part, with the only aim of providing the gods with food.

As well as the numerous references to being the food of the gods, honey also appears in the story of Glaucus, son of Minos, who was found to be dead inside a cask of the sweet liquid. Glaucus was eventually brought back to life by Polyidus, who was ordered to do so by Minos.

Fiolnir (Fjolnir) was a Swedish king from Norse myth who drowned in mead.

Answer: Thriae

The sisters, Melaina (meaning "the Black"), Kleodora (meaning "Famed for her Gift"), and Daphnis (meaning "Laurel"), were said to have taught Apollo their gift of being able to see into the future, a gift which Apollo later taught Hermes. They dwelt on Mount Parnassos.

The sisters have been called goddesses, nymphs, and bee-women. However, they are always strongly linked to bees and the belief that bees are wise, social creatures which are capable of things men are not.

Answer: His tears

In Egyptian myth, the golden stripes of the bee led to it being linked it to the sun and, therefore, with Re.

Honey was a symbol of resurrection in ancient Egypt and was said to have been found in jars in the tomb of the famous Tutankhamen.

Although most stories agree that bees were born from Re's tears, there are some variations of the story. For example, some claim that he cries honey, which turned to bees, others say that his tears fell on the ground, from which bees sprang, and others claim that bees flowed from his eyes.

Bees were also strongly linked to the goddess, Neith, whose temple was known as "the house of the bee".

Answer: Aphrodite

Bees have strong associations with nature in Greek mythology and so are also associated with deities such as Artemis and Demeter.

Indeed, the bee was more closely related to goddesses rather than gods, due to the fact that bees are ruled over by a queen, rather than a king.

The hexagonal shape of the honey-comb (as well as Aphrodite's shrine) is thought to be the symbol of cosmic harmony.

Answer: Algonquian

Wesakechak judged that it was not right that the hard-working bees should have no weapons with which to defend their honey, and so gave them their sting. He also gave the sting to hornets and wasps, after they appealed, saying that they, as cousins of the bee, should be afforded the same rights.

In Algonquian mythology, Wesakechak was believed to be the one who caused the great flood, which is mentioned in many myths and religious tales.

Wesakechak's name has numerous variations in spelling.

Answer: Inviting bees to family funerals

In Northern Europe, and later in North America, it was thought to be vitally important to update bees as to major events within their family (e.g. births, deaths and marriages). If the bees were not told of these events, they would die and the domestic peace of the family would be lost.

After being formally invited to the funeral, the guests would leave food and wine for the bees to enjoy. The collective name for these traditions was the "telling of the bees".

Answer: Flies

The hard-working nature of the first tribe was a trait given to the bees, and they were awarded with nectar, which they gather from flowers. The flies, however, were punished by only being given rotten flesh and discarded scraps as food. Many myths favour bees for their industrious behaviour.

Answer: A praying mantis

The bee carried the mantis over a river and left it lying on a floating flower. Before departing, the bee stung the mantis, planting a seed in its body. The seed grew into a man, who sprung from the mantis. This tale was told by the Bushmen, or San people, of southern Africa.

Answer: Crete

The infant, Zeus, was given to Melissa in order to hide him away from his cannibalistic father, Cronus. Zeus was fed with honey and milk, which was taken from the goat nymph, Amaltheia. When grown, Zeus gave Melissa the horn of plenty (cornucopia) as thanks. In another version of this story, Zeus was raised by Adrasteia and Ide, daughters of Melissus (the "bee-man").