Uncovering Ancient Egypt's Secrets: Mummified Bees Discovered Along the Southwest Coast
It’s no secret that bees have been essential to human life for centuries, providing us with honey and other products. Now, archaeologists have discovered evidence that honeybees were even more important to ancient Egyptians.
Researchers from the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Pisa, and the University of Florence have found mummified honey bees in the tombs of ancient Pharaohs in Egypt. The bees were discovered in the necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa, an important late Middle Kingdom site on the southwest coast of the Nile.
This discovery has shed new light on the importance of honey bees to the ancient Egyptians. Not only did the Pharaohs value the bees for their honey, but the bees were also likely considered a symbol of rebirth and resurrection, making them highly valued during funerary rites. This sheds new light on the importance of bees to the ancient Egyptians and how they viewed these creatures.
source: Phys.org