Note 1050 — Chapter VII · Corinth

“Ex ferulis quadratas,” Varro, de Re Rust. III. 16. 15; “the best are those made of boards,” Florentinus, Geopon. XV. 2. 7; cp. ibid. 2. 21, “Juba king of the Libyans says bees should be kept in a wooden box (ἐν λάρνακι ξυλίνῃ)”; “figura cerarum talis est qualis et habitus domicilii; namque et quadrata et rotunda spatia nec minus longa suam speciem uelut formae quaedam fauis praebent,” Columella IX. 15. 8. For possible earlier evidence for square hives see Aristoph. Vesp. 241 with Schol. ad loc. In Theocr. VII. 78 f. bees occupy a large rectangular box (λάρναξ) of sweet cedar wood, but they are taking part in a miracle and it would be rash to generalize from their behaviour. See further Pauly Wissowa s.v. Bienenzucht.