Thread by @TheMERL

So we get loads of messages from people asking us about bee-keeping in 18th century Germany:

You might think that sounds very specific.

Why bees? Why 18th century? Why Germany?

Well, for starters: the 18th century was a golden age for European bee-keeping. Like a jar of honey, glowing in the sun.

Thanks to technology like microscopes, the secrets of bee life had never been closer, or more magnified. The buzzing, music to natural philosophy's ears.

But this isn't what brings people to our inbox. This isn't what keeps the followers up at night, like bees with rattling against a blind. Which then keeps us up in turn.

Counting sheep is useless. Even counting bees.

It means we're as invested in this as you.

Instead, what people want to know about is this: a candid of bee-keeping in 18th century Germany, that we found in a book on bee-keeping in 18th century Germany.

There's a lion, for some reason, in Germany, and it's hurt. With a man waving honeycomb around, as you do.

In hindsight, this is clearly a very bad decision, because there are also loads of bees who are clearly quite furious with both of them.

My sweet lion son i fear we have wrought the wrath of the killer bees and there is no going back

Why father must we always choose the bees

Technically they are killer bees

waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle waggle

The book also has a really catchy title, which would have rolled off the tongues of the bee-curious philosophers of the age as sweetly as honey itself:

"Brandenburgische Bewährte Bienen-Kunst : Aus eigener und langer Erfahrung, auch fleißiger Nachforschung, Nach dem 4. (cont.)

Buch Georgicorum P. Virgilii Maronis also eingerichtet und beschrieben, daß so wol gelehrte, als ungelehrte Liebhaber der Bienen in der Marck Brandenburg, und den angrentzenden Ländern daraus sehen können: I. Wie man die Bienen mit Lust und Nutzen das Jahr über warten, II (cont.)

Wachs und Honig ausmachen, III. Das Honig brauchen, und Meeth daraus bereiten, IV. Das Wachs färben, Lichte und einige Sachen daraus verfertigen solle, Auch mit etlichen Kupffer-Stichen deutlich erklähret."

By Johann Grüwel.

Memorable, right?

Imagine it as a Star Wars opening credits. How many light years would it take? And how good they'd be!

(A little snap of the beginning):

There may well be alternative interpretations of the scene than ours. And in the spirit of creativity and curiosity, we of course welcome all close readings and invite you to match our intellectual rigour and acuity.

Lastly, this book is part of the Cowan Bee collection at The MERL, which is generously supported by @EvaCraneTrust.

and just as art imitates life, life too imitates art, and currently we have an ENORMOUS number of bees burrowing into the verge in front of The MERL

we welcome our new killer bee overlords and hope to set them up on twitter very soon

15:59pm update:

A rival interpretation is making the rounds (including from our curator @OllieDouglas), that the image represents the Biblical tale of Samson slaying the lion, tearing it open, and unleashing a swarm of bees.

We'll let you decide.

@OllieDouglas out 🐝 of 🐝 strength 🐝 comes 🐝 tweetness 🐝