TRADITIONAL BEEKEEPING: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

It is generally accepted that modern beekeeping traces its origins to the traditional open-at-the-top woven movable-comb beehives (basket hives) of Greece. These hives became known in the West in the 17th century by travellers who encountered them in Greece and described them in their travel memoirs. The existence of movable-comb hives provided several researchers of the Western world with the impetus to search for a more rational method of beekeeping. This research into beekeeping methods was completed in the mid-19th century, when the bee space was defined and the modern frame hive was created.

When, in the 1960s, it was found that the modern frame hive was not suitable for beekeeping in Africa, the traditional movable-comb hives of Greece were proposed instead. This proposal had mass appeal and nowadays the movable-comb hive, usually in an evolved form, is the most popular hive, not only in Africa, but also throughout the developing world.

Archaeological excavations in Isthmia, Greece, have brought to light vertical clay hives dating back to the Hellenistic period which have all the characteristics of traditional movable-comb hives. Experimental beekeeping has been practiced with replicas of these hives, which has proven that the hives in question were operated by the movable-comb method.

DR. GEORGIOS MAVROFRIDIS

ARCHAEOLOGIST

Nature and culture are the eternal heritage of Greece. The gift of nature, provided over millions of years, and culture, shaped from those who lived here. By managing this wealth sustainably, we will be able to reap both experiential and financial rewards.

Greece, with its vast history and plant diversity, and distinct beekeeping tradition, can offer many different tourist products: knowledge about the wondrous society of bees, the history of beekeeping, the methods, tools and structures used, as well as apitherapy and the pleasure with bee products in relation to local cuisine. At the end of the day, apitourism could initiate the revival of traditional methods. Thus, it could contribute to the preservation of stone-built beekeeping structures, such as the bee boles of Andros, but also to the revival of traditional beekeeping methods – in short, to the preservation of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of our homeland.

DR. THEODORA PETANIDOU

EMERITUS PROFESSOR

LABORATORY OF BIOGEOGRAPHY & ECOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN

The tradition of beekeeping in Greece is immense and should not fade into oblivion. Traditional methods of beekeeping practice, including the method with movable-comb hives, may not meet modern needs; however, they can help the beekeepers redefine their relationship with the bees, and acquire knowledge to combat the effects of the climate crisis on the biology of beehives and on the reduced production of bee products. The maintenance of a visitable apiary with traditional hives can also be instrumental in disseminating the history and culture of each region to attract people of all ages and races, providing an alternative source of income.

We urge beekeepers to revive traditional beekeeping methods in every corner of Greece, utilising the knowledge and memories of the old masters of beekeeping and life. As philosopher Santayana once said, "a people that forgets its history is unarmed in the face of the challenges of the present and the future".

DR. SOFIA GOUNARI

RESEARCH DIRECTOR

LABORATORY OF APICULTURE, INSTITUTE OF MEDITERRANEAN & FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

Traditional beekeeping had two sides. That is, the family tradition, which came from past generations, and there we had the clay or wooden etc. types of hives, which, in some types, can be preserved, especially the clay ones, vraskia*. The other one was the so-called neo-traditional, that is, there were people who, either had studied, or had a specific occupation, and they learned beekeeping in more scientific terms. However, they were also individual beekeepers in the village. They simply introduced some, small or little innovations, in relation to the frames, to the type of hive, to the smoker, possibly even to an ethical behaviour towards bees, which they seemed to have better control over compared to traditional beekeepers.

*vraski: vertical movable-comb clay hive of Crete

DR. GEORGIOS NIKOLAKAKIS

SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST

In my research on Andros, I found an impressive wealth of various types of clay hives, as well as structures for long horizontal hives. The most common hive type on the islands of Andros, Kea, and Syros, was the woven hive, which was smeared with manure. The hives were placed in thourides (triangular or square niches in walls). All these hives, whether clay or stone, were of fixed comb. However, on Andros, at the monastery of Agia, just above Batsi, I found a unique case of movable-comb hives, custom-made by a local potter originally from Sifnos. We know from testimonies that the potters used to come to Andros in the summer, bringing ready-made clay pots or making a makeshift kiln on site. They worked from spring to autumn, then returned to their families. In Kea, pseli, ypseli, dipseli, or glastra is a clay movable-comb hive in second, or even first use in the olive press. In the old days in Kea they used fixed hives in holes, bee boles, in ohtes (stone walling), inside built-in parathoures (niches in a wall). All together, these hive types composed a melissomandra (bee yard enclosure). These were either rectangular or triangular. Both (clay) ypselia, covered with a slab, and woven hives were used. Beehives in cut hollow tree trunks have also been reported.

GEORGE SPEIS