The belief is ancient, and widespread. Virgil's Georgic IV refers to the
king. In the absence of definite knowledge, it was the obvious conclusion to
draw. The correct details of life in the hive were not finally worked out
until sometime in the 16th century with the help of lenses. Though I believe
Aristotle had a glass beehive of some kind.
Valery Rees
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Konrad
Eisenbichler
Sent: 27 September 1999 22:06
To: Ficino List; Italian Studies List
Subject: King bees?
What is the sex of the queen bee in the sixteenth century?
In Book 4, section 19 of his "Book of the Courtier", Castiglione has one
of the discussants (Ottaviano) say "and the bees, almost as if they had
discourse of reason, obey their king with as much reverence as the most
obedient people on earth".
Is Castiglione the first to change the gender of the ruler of a bee-hive
or is he drawing on some earlier tradition? Any thoughts on the matter and
on the possible reasons for the gender-bending would be greatly
appreciated.
Konrad Eisenbichler
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