Legenda: Proverbia de Apibus

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Proverbia de Apibus

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These proverbs about the Bee (Apis) are based largely on the bee's sting, and on the honey!

For more information about the bee in Latin bestiaries, visit the Apis in the Zoo. If you find some of the proverbs below difficult to understand, you will find some English translations at the Zoo page, along with some additional notes there that you might find helpful!

Use this Study Guide to organize your learning activities.

Ubi apes, ibi mel.	.
Neque mel mihi neque apes.
In apes irruisti.
Asinus inter apes.
Sola apis mel conficit.
Armat spina rosas, mella tegunt apes.	mella: accusative plural
Primum apes abigendae.	abigendae = abigendae sunt
Aspera portet apum qui dulcia sugat earum.	portet...sugat: potential subjunctives
Quam apes apum similes.
Apes debemus imitari.	imitari: complementary infinitive with debemus
Tuba superat tibias, apes cicadae.
Cicadae apem comparas.
Apis agrestis est.	Note: This phrase was used to refer to a particularly dangerous character, since the wild bee was supposed to leave its stinger behind in the wound, making it far more painful than the sting inflicted by a domesticated bee.