Honey in Ancient Greece

Fill in the Blank

Gods and Honey

Honey in Society

Honey and Homer

Fun Facts!

100

Aristotle writes: "The mussel also constructs a ____."

A. Hive
B. Dwelling
C. Honeycomb
D. Colony

C. Honeycomb

Aristotle (350 B.C.E.). The History of Animals. The Internet Classics Archive. Book V Part 15.

100

How did the Gods use honey?

A. It was their food
B. It was mesmerizing to look at
C. They bathed in it
D. The Gods did not use honey

A. It was their food

Long, L. (2017). Honey : A global history. Reaktion Books, Limited. p 22.

100

True or false: Ancient Greeks were the first people to practice beekeeping.

False, there is evidence of humans in Spain gathering honey and Ancient Egyptians keeping bees long before the Greeks.

Kritsky, G. (2015). The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p 6-9.

100

Odysseus puts what in his ears to prevent the sirens song from affecting him?

A. Beeswax
B. Bees
C. Honey
D. Honeycomb

A. Beeswax

Homer (800 B.C.E.). The Odyssey. The Internet Classics Archive. Book XII.

100

Honey was often mixed with other substances to make hydromel and oxymel. What were the substances used to make each? Be specific on which substance makes which medicine for points.

A. Water
B. Oil
C. Wine
D. Milk
E. Vinegar
F. Urine
G. Blood
H. Fruit juice

Hydromel - Water
Oxymel - Vinegar

Cilliers, L., & Retief, F. P. (2008). Bees, Honey and Health in Antiquity. Akroterion, 53, 7–19. p 10.

200

____ was buried in a grave with bees whose honey had healing properties?

A. Socrates
B. Plato
C. Aristotle
D. Hippocrates

D. Hippocrates, father of medicine

Suvajdžić, L., Djendić, A., Sakač, V., Čanak, G., & Dankuc, D. (2016). Hippocrates - The Father of Modern Medicine. Vojnosanitetski Pregled: Military Medical & Pharmaceutical Journal of Serbia, 73(12), 1181–1186. p 2.

200

Which God gave mortals honey and which gave bees? Be specific for appropriate points.

A. Zeus
B. Hera
C. Aphrodite
D. Ares
E. Dionysus
F. Poseidon
G. Hades
H. Athena
I. Apollo
J. Artemis
K. Hermes
L. Demeter
M. Hephaestus

Zeus - Bees
Dionysus - Honey

Long, L. (2017). Honey : A global history. Reaktion Books, Limited. p 23.

200

Honey was often used in conjunction with what other substances to show honor/love to a lost soul during funerals?

A. Animal fat, oil, and wine
B. Water, milk, and barley
C. Wet sand and feathers
D. It was used by itself

A. Animal fat, oil, and wine

Lambert, M. (2022). The Sacred Power of Fat and Honey in San and Ancient Greek Myth and Ritual. Akroterion, 67, 101. p 8, 13-14.

200

Whose words are described as being "sweeter than honey" in The Iliad?

A. Aphrodite
B. Patroclus
C. Cassandra
D. Nestor

D. Nestor

Homer (800 B.C.E.). The Iliad. The Internet Classics Archive. Book I.

200

What was the compilation of roughly 60 ancient Greek medical works called?

A. Pharma Ethos
B. Kinesis Medical
C. Hippocratic Corpus
D. Aegean Pharma

C. Hippocratic Corpus

Hippocrates (as translated by Francis Adams) (1886). The genuine works of Hippocrates, Vol. 1 (of 2) Translated from the Greek, with a preliminary discourse and annotations.

300

Aristotle claims that bees indulge in another food besides honey: "they have also another food which is called _____; this is scarcer than honey and has a sweet figlike taste..."

Is this food called:
A. Sweet-cakes
B. Jelly-comb
C. Bee-bread
D. Fig-tartare

C. Bee-bread

Aristotle (350 B.C.E.). The History of Animals. The Internet Classics Archive. Book IX, part 40.

300

Women dedicated to the rites of Demeter were called "Melissai". Melissai means:

A. Beauties
B. Gatherers of honey
C. Bees
D. Flowers

C. Bees

Angus Bowie. (2020). The Ritual Role of Honey in Ancient Egypt, Hatti and Greece. Истраживања, 31. p 10.

300

The quality of honey differed place to place. Where was honey considered the best and where was it considered poisonous? Be specific in your answer.

A. Salamis
B. Lesbos
C. Attic
D. Calymna
E. Sardinia
F. Pontus

Attic - best
Pontus - poison

Cilliers, L., & Retief, F. P. (2008). Bees, Honey and Health in Antiquity. Akroterion, 53, 7–19. p 12.

300

In The Odyssey, the Goddess Venus feeds the daughters of Pandareus. What were they fed?

A. Fish, bread, and honey
B. Cheese, honey, and wine
C. Honey, figs, and lamb
D. Only honey

B. Cheese, honey, and wine

Homer (800 B.C.E.). The Odyssey. The Internet Classics Archive. Book XX.

300

What is the literal meaning of "ambrosia" as it relates to honey?

A. "Not for mortals"
B. "Divine food"
C. "Blood of Gods"
D. "Liquid gold"

A. Not for mortals

Long, L. (2017). Honey : A global history. Reaktion Books, Limited. p 23.

400

The Thesmophoria festival often featured "two kotulai of honey figured alongside various grains, fruits, seeds and cheese in offerings for ___."

A. Good harvest from Demeter
B. Luck in battle from Ares
C. Persephone's return from Hades
D. Better wine from Dionysus

C. Persephone's return from Hades

Angus Bowie. (2020). The Ritual Role of Honey in Ancient Egypt, Hatti and Greece. Истраживања, 31. p 16.

400

Which God was fed honey as an infant?

A. Zeus
B. Poseidon
C. Hades
D. Ares

A. Zeus (you totally probably thought it was Ares lol)

Cook, A. B. (1895). The Bee in Greek Mythology. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 15, 1–24.

400

Who was buried in a grave with bees that had honey with healing properties?

A. Socrates
B. Plato
C. Aristotle
D. Hippocrates

D. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.

400

Who did Achilles assemble a funeral pyre for which consisted of animal fats and honey?

A. Agamemnon
B. Patroclus
C. Briseis
D. Menelaus

B. Patroclus

Homer (800 B.C.E.). The Iliad. The Internet Classics Archive. Book XXIII.

400

Bees and honey were commercialized alongside:

A. Cattle and cattle skins
B. Paints and dyes
C. Tools and weapons
D. Fruits and vegetables

A. Cattle and cattle skins

Lambert, M. (2022). The Sacred Power of Fat and Honey in San and Ancient Greek Myth and Ritual. Akroterion, 67, 101. p 114.

500

"Taken with ____ or as a linctus, honey alleviated difficult labour."

A. Beans
B. Lamb
C. Wine
D. Bread
E. Fish

A. Beans

Cilliers, L., & Retief, F. P. (2008). Bees, Honey and Health in Antiquity. Akroterion, 53, 7–19. p 11.

500

Who is the God of beekeeping?

A. Aristaeus
B. Pan
C. Apate
D. Asclepius

A. Aristaeus

Cook, A. B. (1895). The Bee in Greek Mythology. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 15, 1–24. p 8-10.

500

When applied directly to the skin, honey helped to alleviate:

A. Acne
B. Hemorrhoids
C. Wrinkles
D. Scars

B. Hemorrhoids (gross)

Cilliers, L., & Retief, F. P. (2008). Bees, Honey and Health in Antiquity. Akroterion, 53, 7–19. p 11.

500

Between The Iliad and The Odyssey, how many times does Homer use some form of the word "honey"?

A. 5
B. 7
C. 10
D. 12

D. 12

Homer (800 B.C.E.). The Odyssey. The Internet Classics Archive.

Homer (800 B.C.E.). The Iliad. The Internet Classics Archive.

500

A famous ancient Greek vase depicts Laios, Keleos, Kerberos, and Aigolios doing what?

A. Gathering honey
B. Tending to bee hives
C. Getting stung by bees
D. Eating honey

C. Getting stung by bees

Cook, A. B. (1895). The Bee in Greek Mythology. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 15, 1–24. p 2.