Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Alveare

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ALVEA'RE (σμῆνος, σίμβλος). A beehive, in which the bees make their combs and deposit their honey. (Columell. ix. 11. 1.) Amongst the ancients these were sometimes made of metal, of which an example (Alveare/1.1) is introduced (s. FORI) from an original found at Pompeii; also of earthenware, but they were not approved, as being most affected by the vicissitudes of heat and cold. The best were made from strips of cork, or of the fennel-plant (ferula) sewed together; and the next best of basket-work (Columell. ix. 6. 1. Virg. Georg. iv. 33.), as in the example, which is taken from a Roman bas-relief, in which it is introduced as an emblem accompanying the figure of Hope. Montfauc. Antiq. Expl. i. 204.

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  Alveare/1.1