(urgent preservation & safeguard)

Overview

BEELOSOPHY documents traditional beekeeping in movable-comb hives, with the assistance of some of its last living bearers. Special emphasis is put on the upright movable-comb hives of Crete and Kythera. Activities undertaken include: study visits, collection and production of documentary material, creation of educational media (videos, recordings, storytelling, brochure, photographs), production and installation of clay hives (replicas) for educational and cultural purposes, as well as communication, networking, and dissemination initiatives. Modern-day interpretation, protection and safeguard of this cultural heritage, as well as highlighting other related cultural elements are supported.

Objectives – Priorities

The action aims to contribute to the preservation and safeguard of the Greek traditional beekeeping method of movable-comb hives. Practitioners in Crete and elsewhere are encouraged to utilise the traditional beekeeping method to gain stimuli and knowledge, enrich activities related to beekeeping, alternative tourism, educational, cultural and other fields to familiarise the public with tradition and the cultural landscape, and to contribute to the promotion of beekeeping heritage as a factor of sustainable development, cohesion and empowerment of local societies. The results of the action can be incorporated within a wide geographic area where movable-comb hives have traditionally been used (central/ western Crete, Kythera, Antikythera, eastern Peloponnese, Argosaronic islands, Attica, Kea), without altering the identity of the referred-to regions.

Justification - Significance

Traditional beekeeping in Greece boasts an impressively large variety of hive types and beekeeping methods. The most important traditional beekeeping method in Greece is that of movable combs. Movable-comb hives were well known in ancient Greece and have remained in use in the Greek territory to this day. They became known in the West in the 17th century and decisively influenced the evolution of global beekeeping. Indeed, Lorenzo Langstroth in the United States of America was based on the knowledge acquired from the Greek movable-comb hives to define the bee space and patented the modern movable-frame hive in 1852, which remains the most universally popular hive. Furthermore, the most widespread type of hive in the developing world is a variant of the Greek movable-comb hive. This beekeeping heritage is nowadays in immediate danger of disappearing. Therefore, its safeguard and preservation are extremely important.

In 2025 the element "Βeekeeping tradition of Kythera" was inscribed on the Hellenic Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.