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In Greece and Italy: Onesilus

Herodotus tells of a prodigy by which the bees gained tardy but earnest recognition for a slain leader from his slayers. Onesilus the Salaminian was killed in an encounter with the Persians. "Now the Amathusians, having cut off the head of Onesilus because he had besieged them, took it to Amathus, and suspended it over the gates; and when the head was suspended, and had become hollow, a swarm of bees entered it, and filled it with honey-comb. When this happened the Amathusians consulted the oracle respecting it, and an answer was given them that they should take down the head and bury it, and sacrifice annually to Onesilus as to a hero; and if they did so, it would turn out better for them. The Amathusians did accordingly, and continued to do so until my time."

The literature and mythology of the ancients contain numerous such stories of prophecy, good or bad, given by the bees.

The sweetness of honey came to be symbolical of the sweetness of speech. As honey was sweet in the mouth, sweet also were the words of the eloquent that proceeded out of the mouth. Hence the expressions *"honeyed speech," "honeyed tongue," "his tongue dropped honey," and many others.

Hesiod, for instance, speaking of the gifts bestowed by the Muses upon whomsoever among the kings of men they delight to honor, says, "Upon his tongue they shed a balmy dew; And words, as honey sweet, drop from his lips."

Future greatness and future eloquence are said frequently to have been foretold by bees.