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In Greece and Italy: Apollo

The bees are also related to the sun god, and the priestesses of Apollo are called Melissæ, the pythoness herself being termed by Pindar the bee of Delphi, in one of his Pythian odes: - "O blest son of Polymnestes, thee, agreeably to this prediction, the oracle hath ennobled by the spontaneous voice of the Delphic bee; which, having three times bid thee hail, proclaimed thee destined King of Cyrene, when thou wast inquiring what help for impeded speech there shall be from the gods."

One of the oldest temples built to Apollo was constructed by the bees, according to Pausanias, who thus tells the story :- "Many things, indeed, are reported of the Delphi, and particularly concerning the oracle of Apollo.. For they say that this oracle is the most ancient of any on the earth."

There were three temples raised to Apollo, one of brass, one of branches of the laurel-tree, the third, says Pausanias, 66 was raised by bees from wax and wings, and was sent by Apollo to the Hyperboreans."