HIVES OF MEMORY AND KNOWLEDGE AT THE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Georgios Goras, Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Apiculture and Sericulture of the Agricultural University of Athens, guided us through the University's apiary, where — alongside modern hives — replicas of horizontal and vertical ancient and traditional hives are on display.
This collection was recently enriched with four replicas of vertical clay hives with movable frames, generously donated by Beelosophy, bridging scientific research with beekeeping tradition.

As Georgios Goras explains:

"These hive replicas play an important role in our activities. They allow students to understand how a bee colony naturally organizes itself within a cavity and builds its own framework for growth. Observing traditional hives brings us closer to the bees' natural nest and allows us to approach the history of beekeeping scientifically through experimental archaeology. By studying different hive types, we can understand how beekeeping evolved from ancient times to the 'beekeeping revolution' around 200 years ago. Maintaining these hives at the Agricultural University enables us to keep tradition alive and serve as a reference point for scientists and researchers interested in traditional beekeeping."

The presentation also included archaeologist Georgios Mavrofridis, who highlighted the historical context of traditional hives in Attica. He also presented an experimental project carried out in collaboration with the University, in which a hive replica was placed inside a stone cavity, providing valuable insights into ancient beekeeping techniques.

Through educational and research activities, as well as outreach initiatives such as informational videos and interviews, the Agricultural University of Athens promotes knowledge, tradition, and the ecological value of beekeeping, strengthening the connection between science, culture, and the environment.

We sincerely thank Georgios Goras for his hospitality and Georgios Mavrofridis for his contribution and participation.

This activity is part of Beelosophy's initiative "Traditional Beekeeping with Movable-Comb Hives", which aims to preserve and highlight Greece's beekeeping heritage.

The initiative "TRADITIONAL BEEKEEPING WITH MOVABLE-COMB HIVES (ATTICA & KYTHERA)" is implemented with financial support and under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

Auspices