The Magic Spells That Herded Medieval Bees via Gastro Obscura

The image depicts a medieval manuscript illustration, featuring a detailed scene of bees and a beehive. The illustration is framed by a gold border with a decorative pattern. On the left side, a cluster of green plants with small flowers is shown, with several bees depicted in various positions, some hovering and others landing on the flowers. The bees are illustrated with brown bodies and blue wings, adding a sense of movement to the scene. On the right side, a green beehive with a conical shape is depicted, with bees flying around it, suggesting activity and interaction. The background is a plain, off-white color, typical of medieval manuscripts. The text above the illustration is in Latin, written in a Gothic script, with the first letter of the text block highlighted in blue. The overall composition is balanced, with the plants and bees on the left and the beehive on the right, creating a harmonious and naturalistic scene.

IF YOU HAD A PROBLEM in Early Medieval Europe, chances were good that there was a spell for it. “Metrical charms” were sets of magical instructions for addressing dilemmas with spoken words and actions that combined herbal medicine, prayer, and ritual. Many dealt with the challenges of agriculture, with Old English examples having titles like “For Unfruitful Land,” “For Lost Cattle,” and Wiþ Ymbe, meaning “For a Swarm of Bees.”

Read this entire article – The Magic Spells That Herded Medieval Bees via Gastro Obscura

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