BEEHOUSE DISCOVERED IN CHIOS

An important achievement of BEELOSOPHY AMBASSADOR G. Mavrofridis and Professor T. Petanidou

During the recently carried out research of the Laboratory of Biogeography and Ecology, University of the Aegean, on traditional beekeeping of Chios island, which was carried out within the framework of the project "Self-restoration of pollination services in Mediterranean post-fire biocommunities, considering the characteristics of fire and grazing", funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (EL.ID.E.K.), with Emeritus Professor Theodora Petanidou as Scientific Manager, among the many and interesting findings that emerged, stands out a stone-built apiary, which was identified and recorded by Dr. Giorgos Mavrofridis.

The finding is important because, in the Greek area, similar constructions had so far only been recorded in northern Andros. Outside of Greece, stone-built beehives were used during the last centuries in areas of southern France, northwestern Italy and Guadalajara, Spain.

The apiary of Chios is located in the wider area of the village of Armolia and is preserved in a recognisable, yet non-functional condition (the roof and the entrance door are missing). Its construction dates back to at least the 19th century and it has ten clay cells on its walls, five cylindrical two-stoma and five triangular in shape, created with the use of three local roof tiles.

The architectural impression of the beehive of Armolia is carried out by Eleni Boumpari, architect, and Triantafyllia Androulidaki, a monument restoration expert. The construction, as well as the operation of said beehive, will be examined in detail in a future article published in a scientific journal by the research participants.