The Bee Goddess
Lithuanian Bee Goddess
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AUSTEJA (Austheia) is the Lithuanian Bee Goddess with whom some interesting rituals are connected. It was believed that bees chose their own homes according to how generous the farmer was; when a queen hived off, the people followed until she set up a new location, after which the two families were considered linked through "biciulyste", a kind of kinship-via-bee. Neither bees nor honey could be bought or sold, because they were gifts, not products.
The Lithuanian language hd several wrds for "death", one of which was used for both bees and people, other words for oher beiings. If a dead bee was found, it was buried in the Earth, not left unburied.
Austeja's feast was iin August, and the festivities were believed attended by dancing bees.
Bring back biciulyste! ( from Patricia Monaghan)

Traditional Lithuanian Bee Hive
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Lithuanian Hive

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The Lithuanians love their honey bees so much that they've established the Museum of Ancient Beekeeping. Perhaps the Austeja Bee Goddess is working in the background?
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"In the museum you can learn about the protection of bee-hollows from bears and about different kinds of beehives, made of the trunks. Beehives of this kind were used in Lithuani from the 15th until the beginning of the 20th century. Some sculptures are beehives themselves: the God of bees Babilas and the goddess Austeja are representatives from Lithuanian mythology.
The main building was constructed in a traditional way. The beekeeping equipment and tools are presented here. The photographs will explain how to climb the tree to reach the bee hollow. Here you will find a beehive made of straw and many more interesting things. In the next building, which by its architectural style represents a granary, you will learn about melliferous herbs and bee products. In the barn you will find the tools which were used to make beehives.
Across the Tauragnele Rill you will arrive into the world of old myths. The wooden sculptures illustrate the origin of the bee in mythology of different cultures: Egyptians, American Indians and Lithuanians."