By 5000 BCE, ancient Egypt reached its agricultural height with the development of irrigation systems that allowed for crops and flowers to flourish bringing honey bees. They were see as a gift from Ra, made from his tears. The first form of organized beekeeping was introduced.

Sugar didn’t exist in ancient Egypt, so honey was one of the only available sweeteners. Images in the Sun Temple of Niuserre, show Egyptian beekeepers blowing smoke into hives as they remove honeycombs. Honey was very expensive and only available to royalty.

People often brought honey to temples as payment to the gods. Temples kept honey for their gods and was also used in medicine to treat and seal open wounds, for its antibacterial properties. Egyptians used beeswax in the mummification process, for candles, as a sealant for ships.

E. Crane found ancient beehives in the Nile valley. They were cylindrical, made of interwoven twigs and reeds and the gaps were filled with mud. The hives had a hole in the front for the bees to fly in and out, and a hole on the back for smoking the hive. R. Mcphee, G Kristky