THE LIVING HERITAGE
TRADITIONAL BEEKEEPING WITH MOVABLE-COMB HIVES
With financial support and under the auspices
Bearers of beekeeping heritage - Attica & Kythera
1. Ioannis Protopsaltis, Kythera
In Kokkinohorafa, eastward, beneath Mount Digenis, traditional beekeeper Ioannis Protopsaltis welcomed us into a restored farmhouse and presented the richness of Kythera's beekeeping heritage. Outside the house, he maintains bees in traditional hives made of limestone, wood, and clay, which he crafted himself. The area, once vibrant with vineyards, olive groves, grain fields, and herds, was especially renowned for beekeeping — a practice deeply connected to the island's sacred landscape and identity.
Through our project, we documented this tradition, highlighting its significance both for the history of Kythera and its symbolic link with the local flora, such as thyme and sage. We also shed light on its global relevance, as the ancient Kytherian method with movable combs (adonakia) became the foundation of modern beekeeping worldwide.
By recording oral testimonies, knowledge, and symbolism, the project contributes to safeguarding an intangible heritage that connects past and present, and unites Kytherians with their diaspora across the world.
2. Agricultural University of Athens / Georgios Goras
The Agricultural University of Athens serves as a living centre of beekeeping heritage, maintaining and utilising replicas of traditional hives that highlight the natural behaviour, autonomy, and organisation of bees. Through student education, research activities, and comparative studies of different hive types, the University contributes significantly to the preservation, promotion, and scientific documentation of traditional beekeeping.
In the University's collection of traditional hives, with a donation from Beelosophy, replicas of vertical clay hives with movable combs have been added, for educational purposes. At the same time, through outreach initiatives such as informative videos and interviews shared with a wide audience, the University promotes knowledge and appreciation of beekeeping traditions, strengthening the connection between science, culture, and the environment.
3. Christos Apostolou, Varnavas, Attica
The Attica beehive cap: a crown of tradition
In Varnavas, Attica, beekeeper Christos Apostolou keeps alive a rare tradition: the crafting of woven beehives made from cane and rushes, along with the art of making the skoufos — the conical cover placed over the hive. The skoufos protects the bee colony from rain, cold, and heat, while also sealing the hive from above, acting as a natural lid.
In Attica, the craft of making the skoufos is known for its simplicity: it relies on a central tying method and perimeter bindings, without the use of a ring or complex weaving, unlike other regions.
Through our project, we documented and highlighted this rare knowledge, contributing to the preservation of a traditional technique that forms part of Attica's cultural heritage.
4. Father Giorgis Adikimenakis, Kythera
At the Monastery of Agia Moni in Kythera, a unique tradition continues: the art of candle making. Father Giorgis Adikimenakis, guardian of a craft that is slowly fading, creates with care pure beeswax candles — symbols of faith and continuity for the island's churches.
Our project highlighted this important tradition, connecting natural beeswax with spirituality, reverence, and the history of Kythera. For centuries, Kytherian beeswax was highly valued and even sought after.
At Agia Moni, candle making is more than a craft — it is a prayer, a flame carrying tradition from one generation to the next.
Narratives
The flora of the area, its morphology, and the weather conditions greatly favoured the development of beekeeping since ancient times. Thus, everyone who lived here had a small number of beehives. The movable combs, known as adonakia—small wooden slats placed at the top of the hive for bees to build their combs underneath—were the key driver of beekeeping development in the region. Beekeeping around the world uses movable combs based on the ancient Greek method, specifically the ancient Kytherian method, the adonakia. The adonaki is the origin of the modern hive and dates back to a time before Aristotle. Aristotle worked with such hives with movable combs in order to make his observations, which he recorded in History of Animals (Peri ton zoon historias).
From tradition comes evolution. Evolution is not always about modernity. Science is based on traditional techniques, knowledge, and practices that are the result of thousands of years of experience. Therefore, we must take tradition as our starting point. If we leverage tourism to pass on all this ancient knowledge and bring mindful people closer to tradition, we will develop a quality, gentle, and sustainable form of tourism. The way to achieve this is to make it fashionable. So, if bee-tourism starts to become trendy, that is success.
In recent years, a significant effort has been made by the Kytherian Foundation for Culture and Development, which is trying to promote a different model of development for the island—one that combines the cultural landscape with the island's traditions: the crops, the olive trees, and beekeeping, with the trails, the gorges, and the watermills—so that those walking along the paths can come to know the entire way of life of the island's earlier inhabitants.
IOANNIS PROTOPSALTIS
BEARER OF THE TRADITIONAL BEEKEEPING MOVABLE-COMB METHOD
KYTHERA
The beekeepers of our region bring honeycombs. After we melt them in a cauldron, we get the tipári (a dense wax residue), which we then melt down to make the candles that we light in church and dedicate to the shrines.
The difference between beeswax and paraffin is that when a paraffin candle burns, it becomes deformed, unstable, and eventually collapses, whereas natural beeswax melts vertically, keeping the candle uniform.
The beeswax from Kythera was in high demand and considered purer than that of other regions. Apart from the fact that Kythera has many beehives and abundant thyme, it was also the faith of the people that shaped the belief that the wax from Kythera was purer. Furthermore, beehives were surrounded by a sense of sanctity, and since wax is produced by virgin bees, it carried a second layer of symbolism—it was destined for the Virgin (Mary).
FATHER GIORGIS ADIKIMENAKIS
HOLY PILGRIMAGE OF AGIA MONI
KYTHERA
Beekeeping in Kythera has been known for thousands of years. Notable are the carved hives in the limestone rocks, as well as the traces of the unique movable hive frames, which represent a global pioneering achievement in beekeeping. These frames are associated with the island's cedars and other trees, which favoured the development of beekeeping and helped establish the reputation of Kytherian honey.
Traditional beekeeping in Kythera differs significantly from the migratory beekeeping found in other regions of Greece. It was a family-based activity, with knowledge passed down from generation to generation. The pollen from thyme and other herbs, along with the migration of birds from Africa, created a rich and enclosed ecosystem that produces plants and honey unique to Kythera.
At the Kytherian Foundation, beyond the quality of the honey, we were particularly interested in how the worker bees and the values of their society profoundly influenced the local community. It is no coincidence that many village associations either feature the bee in their emblem or are named "Melissa" (Bee). We also highlighted the miracle of the "Evil Bee," where it is said that the Virgin Mary sent the bees to defeat pirates and save a monastery near Livadi, offering a unique way of venerating the bee.
To showcase all this cultural wealth, we submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Culture for the inscription of Kythera's Beekeeping Tradition in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
MANOLIS HAROS
ARTIST
BOARD MEMBER, KYTHERIAN FOUNDATION FOR CULTURE & DEVELOPMENT
KYTHERA
The alternative tourism organisation Pyrgos House organises activities related to nature and culture, such as: guided tours, hiking, beekeeping excursions, gorge crossings, cooking workshops, olive oil soap making, olive harvesting, trail maintenance, wild orchid observation.
Through intreraction with local tradition- bearers, elements of our cultural heritage become more widely known and are preserved. At the same time, sustainable alternative tourism contributes to a balanced, gentle development and teaches us to respect nature and the culture of the region.
The tradition-bearers themselves, such as traditional beekeepers or cultural institutions, could educate locals (e.g. schools) and visitors about traditional beekeeping to help preserve this heritage. Also, al cultural information leaflet could be included with each jar of honey sold in stores.
FRANK VAN WEERDE
PYRGOS HOUSE
KYTHERA