The bee is small, yet it is one of the oldest and most respected symbols. It is an image of hard work, of order and of the sweet reward of effort.
The sacred bee
According to ancient Egyptian legend, bees were born from the tears of the sun god Ra. The bee was also the symbol of Lower Egypt, and honey was seen as the food of the gods. The Greeks linked the bee with the goddess Artemis, and the priestesses of her temple in Ephesus were called “bees”.
Napoleon’s bee
When Napoleon was crowned in 1804, he chose the bee as his imperial emblem. Golden bees were embroidered on his coronation robe – a symbol of immortality and of a people working in unity.
Symbolism
- hard work and persistence;
- order, community and cooperation;
- prosperity and well-earned success;
- the sweetness of life.
The bee in jewellery
The bee is delightful in brooches, earrings and hair clips – in gold, with crystals and enamel. A bee jewel is a lovely gift for a fresh start, for success at work or for someone who never stops.
