[Greek] An ancient Greek pastoral deity, the son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene, but also Uranus is mentioned as his father. Aristaeus was made immortal by Gaia. He is the patron of the hunt, agriculture, cattle, and especially bee-culture. Aristaeus also taught mankind how to cultivate olives.
Aristaeus (Greek) Beneficent Greek deity, son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene, who aided with husbandry, flocks, and bees and gave protection from summer's extreme heat; raised by the Hours and Gaia, who made him immortal. He brought destruction on Eurydice, wife of Orpheus, who was bitten by a snake while fleeing from him. Afterwards, his bees having been destroyed by angry nymphs as punishment, he sacrificed cattle and, returning nine days later, found a swarm of bees using one of the carcasses as a hive.
See also Orpheus . {BCW 13:237, elsewhere}
