Honey is a sweet substance that bees extract from nectar or honeydew. They store it in their hives and consume it throughout the year, especially during bad weather. It is also consumed by other animal species, including human species, which organise its production through beekeeping.
Honey, a food that dates back to Prehistory
The earliest traces of beeswax found in Anatolia date back to 7000 BC. Other sites dating from 5000 to 3000 BC have also been discovered, notably in the Balkans, Greece and Central Europe. This indicates the very widespread use of honey by mankind throughout history since prehistory.
Initially, humans began by collecting honey directly from wild swarms. Thus, prehistoric figures were found, such as in Valencia in Spain, recording these harvests. This technique continued until the Middle Ages. It was only later that this man became a true beekeeper.
However, the use of honey and bee products by prehistoric humans is still unknown.
Honey, a food used by all civilisations
Honey was used by the Sumerians and Babylonians during religious ceremonies. It is also worth mentioning the Egyptians who used it for the ritual mummification of the dead. In certain cultures, honey is considered a medicine with multiple properties. It can also be used to preserve food. Obviously, it is part of our diet.
In medieval Europe, “beekeeping” was a feudal right that allowed kings, lords and monasteries to obtain certain quantities of hives, hives, wax and/or honey from the beekeepers of their vassals. This shows how important this food was at that time.
But it was in 1730 that beekeeping experienced a new surge, with the invention of the superfood. This made it possible to harvest honey without destroying the colony. This innovation would democratise honey consumption and herald the emergence of beekeeping in its modern form. It would reach its peak in the nineteenth century.
Honey, a symbol in ancient cultures and religions
Honey is an important symbol of ancient cultures and religions, extending to Christianity itself. A symbol of sweetness in Judaism, it is also associated with a prophetic gift for both the Greeks and the Bible: John the Baptist ate wild honey and Samson found it in the carcass of a lion.
The Word of God is also compared to honey. For Islam, in the Qur’an, honey is among the foods of heaven. Continuing the medicinal uses already known to Galen, the traditions attributed to Muhammad made honey a divine medicine.
In the History of Animals, Aristotle presents honey as the dew that bees suck from flowers. In Antiquity, honey, owing to its taste, its consistency (neither thick nor liquid), and its capacity to keep for a long time, appeared as a “memory” on earth of the immortal food of the divinities: nectar and honey. A symbol of the sun par excellence, honey is like a vegetable quintessence of the light of the celestial body celebrated in flowers. It is a sign of purity, especially among the worshippers of Mithra. It is also a symbol of science and poetry and is traditionally considered as a godsend. Greek poetry (melikè) and honey (meli) share a common root
Good to know: The name “honey” is derived from the 8th day of the month of Frimaire in the French republican or revolutionary calendar, generally 28 November of each year in the Gregorian calendar.
