The HISTORY of Honey
Honey in Prehistoric Times
Honey bees have been around since time immemorial. A rock painting in Cueva de la Arana, near Valencia, Spain, depicts prehistoric man gathering honey.
Honey in The Bible
The Bible recorded accounts of Samson, Jonathan, David, John the Baptist and Jesus eating honey.
Honey in The Ancient India
In Rig Veda 1:90:6-8, the book of Vedas of ancient India, honey is mentioned nine times.
Let every wind that blows drop honey
Let every river and streams recreate honey
Let all our medicines turn into honey
Let the dawn and evening be full of honey
Let the darkness be converted to honey
Let our nourisher, the sky above, be full of honey
Let our trees be honey
Let the Sun be honey
Let our cows make honey
Honey in Ancient China
Honey is mentioned in the song book of Shi Jing in the 6th Century AD. Honey medicine is mentioned in the 52nd Prescription Book written in the 3rd Century AD. In Chinese medicine, honey is believed to act according to the principles of the Earth element, having influence over the stomach and the spleen.
Honey in Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, honey is depicted in numerous hieroglyphics. Images of beekeeping and honey can be seen in the Pabasa tombs dating back to between 760-656 BC. The Ebers papyrus (1550 BC) records some 147 medicinal uses of honey. The Smith papyrus (1700 BC) records honey being used in wound healing: “Thou shouldst bind (the wound) with fresh meat the first day (and) treat afterwards with grease, honey, (and) lint every day until he recovers.”
Honey in Ancient Greece
Aristoteles wrote about the production of honey. Hippocrates extolled its healing properties: “cleans sores and ulcers, softens hard ulcers of the lips, heals carbuncles and running sores.” Alexander the Great was reported to have been embalmed with honey after his death in 323 BC.
Honey in the Quran
Chapter 16 of the Quran is titled, “The Bee.” It states, “There proceedeth from their bellies a liquor of various colour, wherein is medicine for men.” Prophet Mohammed made a declaration that “Honey is a remedy for all diseases.”
