Alchemy discussion forum > Alchemical Symbolism and Imagery > Alchemy Symbolism and Imagery > Bee-hive symbolism
Alchemy discussion forum > Alchemical Symbolism and Imagery > Alchemy Symbolism and Imagery > Bee-hive symbolism |
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Paul Ferguson Member 
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This short but quite interesting article in French: http://www.la-ruche-sauvage.com/ruches/rucsymb.php tells us about bee-hive symbolism: - in Michael Maier's Examen Fucorum (see illustration) http://books.google.com.br/books/about/Examen_fucorum_pseudo_chymicorum_detecto.html?hl=pt-BR&id=0CxlAuaBkAUC where it is alleged to represent "the alliance of the earthy and the airy" [??] - at the Château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, discussed by Fulcanelli  http://hermetism.free.fr/Dampierre%20sur%20boutonne%2001.htm - and at the Hôtel Lallemant de Bourges, ditto http://hermetism.free.fr/Hotel_Lallemant_caisson_09.htm Any other alchemical sightings, and what does it signify? Attached Image (viewed 3080 times): |
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adammclean Member 
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The beehive symbol is quite rare in alchemical illustrations, though it is found in many emblem books. A good example from an alchemical work is the frontispiece from Geheimnisse einiger Philosophen und Adepten, 1780, here in my coloured version. Attached Image (viewed 2857 times): |
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adammclean Member
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Fludd, of course, with a Rosicrucian reference, uses the beehive and the idea of bees collecting honey in his Summum bonum, Frankfurt 1629. The imagery of this engraving was copied from an earlier emblem book from a few years earlier. Attached Image (viewed 2541 times): |
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Tom Willard Member 
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This may be in the article (pardon me for not having checked) but it is interesting that Alciat has Cupid attending the hive of bees that fertilize the golden apples (lemons) of Venus: http://www.mun.ca/alciato/e207.html |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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adammclean wrote:Fludd, of course, with a Rosicrucian reference, uses the beehive and the idea of bees collecting honey in his Summum bonum, Frankfurt 1629. Interesting commentary on this image here: http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/Eberly/CommentaryDR.htm Bernard Fortin has kindly drawn my attention to the play on words : DAT ROSA MEL APIBUS The rose gives honey to the bees DAT ROS A ME LAPIBUS Thanks to me the dew gives to the Stones [?] |
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adammclean Member
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See my article on the website http://www.alchemywebsite.com/fludd_rose.html for the source for the Fludd image. |
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