In ancient times bees were a sign of the Goddess. With honey being the only sweetener in the ancient world, the honeybee was seen as both industrious and magical. And since women were the first beekeepers, the honeybee has always symbolized matriarchy.

In Crete, they believed that at the death of the sacrificial bull the Goddess was reborn as a bee. Thus the "bull-born" Goddess of transformation and regeneration - both bee and bull belonged to the moon.

At Ephesus, where the many breasted Artemis-Diana was worshipped, the bee appeared as her cult animal. Her temple at Ephesus was a symbolic beehive. Her priestesses were called Melissa (bees) and the eunuch priests were Essenes (drones).
Text adapted from The Great Cosmic Mother by Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor.