Beekeeping in Malta — Past & Present
The Maltese Islands were renowned for their pure honey since ancient times. The Greeks gave the island the name Melite (Μελίτη), which derives from the Greek word ‘meli’ (μέλι) that means honey. The honeybee has inhabited the Maltese Islands for Millenia. Maltese endemic sub spieces of bees – Apis Mellifera Ruttneri. Thought that the Phoenicians introduced the domestication of beekeeping and apiculture locally (750 BC to 480 BC). The Romans and Arab periods saw further improvement on local apiculture techniques.
Several examples of punic apiaries called Migbha and related location names such as Imgiebah and Wied il Ghasel. The Knights used honey as a sweetener as well as for medicinal purposes, they used it to treat sore throats, coughs as well as for the treatment of wounds. The Knights’ Sagra Infermeria, was the foremost hospital of Europe in its day. The Hospitallers were diligently hygienic in their ministrations; the silver chalices and cutlery which the hospital used were not an extravagance but rather among the Order’s many concessions to hygiene.
The Maltese Islands were renowned for their pure honey since ancient times. The Greeks gave the island the name Melite (Μελίτη), which derives from the Greek word ‘meli’ (μέλι) that means honey. The honeybee has inhabited the Maltese Islands for Millenia. Maltese endemic sub spieces of bees – Apis Mellifera Ruttneri. Thought that the Phoenicians introduced the domestication of beekeeping and apiculture locally (750 BC to 480 BC). The Romans and Arab periods saw further improvement on local apiculture techniques.
Several examples of punic apiaries called Migbha and related location names such as Imgiebah and Wied il Ghasel. The Knights used honey as a sweetener as well as for medicinal purposes, they used it to treat sore throats, coughs as well as for the treatment of wounds. The Knights’ Sagra Infermeria, was the foremost hospital of Europe in its day. The Hospitallers were diligently hygienic in their ministrations; the silver chalices and cutlery which the hospital used were not an extravagance but rather among the Order’s many concessions to hygiene.