In Greece there are about 25,000 beekeepers, of which about 3,000 are professional beekeepers. There are 1.5 million bee colonies, while in the European Union there are around 10 million. The main varieties are pine honey, orange honey, flower honey and thyme honey, which is unique for its taste and nutritional value.
In antiquity, beekeeping constituted an important source of income, as honey was the main sweetening agent used.
In ancient Greece, the beehives were made of perishable material.
Among others, beehives made from clay were found, similar to the one shown here.
Exhibit: Ceramic beehive with measurements 0,60 m x 0,30 m. Oblong and closed on the top.
For many years, the straw beehive was the main form.
Aristotle – the greatest philosopher of antiquity – mentioned in his work “Stories About Animals” that the taste of honey partly depends on the flowers the bees have been consuming, and that honey is at its best in springtime.
Exhibit: A beehive made from straw, with measurements 0,45 m x 0,30-0,40 m. Oblong, closed on bottom
It has an opening for the bees to get out. Open on the top, covered with a stone or a piece of wood.
In 1851, the American Lorenzo Langstroth invents a beehive with a movable frame. He is considered the father of modern beekeeping, and his invention is the base on which today´s beekeeping is founded.
Exhibits: A two-storey beehive with lid and sieve. Dichromatic front.
On top of the beehive is a new smoker and A new grater.
The basic innovation for the modern beehive was the moveable, detachable bottom part.
This bottom part helps dealing with Varroa (a tiny mite, a parasite and enemy of the bees) and supports a better hygiene of the population.
Exhibits: A two-storey beehive with Australian or plastic lid. Small door.
On top, a steam knife beekeeper’s GLOVES. Beekeeper’s protector suit.
