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Post by Izodiea on Feb 12, 2011 14:12:05 GMT -5
I have this Bee patterned Silk Dupioni I have been meaning to make into an open robe and bonnet. I remembered that Bees had special symbolism relating them to Napoleon and decided to look it up. Example: www.napoleon.org/en/essential_napoleon/symbols/index.aspSo I am curious about the use of bees in everyday clothing (or similar symbols) would everyday people have worn them if they were not imperialists or somehow related to the Monarchy?
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Post by theachristine on Feb 12, 2011 15:46:25 GMT -5
Though I haven't done thorough research yet, I wanted to post this blurb I found regarding your topic from Bellaonline.com: Bees have amazing symbolic history--both in waking and in dream life. Dating as far back as 5 B.C. cultures have used the bee to symbolize everything from industry and productivity to the Goddess as the Great Mother archetype. Ancient Egyptians thought the bee a symbol of wisdom, regeneration, and obedience. Bees also became symbolic of royalty. Many of the long-haired Merovingian monarchs were buried with gold bees placed in their tombs. Napoleon's robes were known for their embroidered bees because Napoleon saw the bee as symbolic of immortality and resurrection. Today, Freemasons use the bee and the beehive as one of its symbols denoting industry. Additionally, we use the bee to illustrate human characteristics such as "busy as a bee" or "queen bee." We also use the bee to denote certain activities such as the spelling bee or a quilting bee. It is obvious that bees have a firm place in our collective unconscious so they are not an unusual dream symbol. In fact, it is not only the bee which may turn up in dreams but those things associated with them such as the beehive, honey, or the honey comb. Below are some ideas about what these symbols may mean. If I find more information in my own archives, I will write more. Hope this helps
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Post by dawnluckham on Feb 13, 2011 10:50:22 GMT -5
It’s like wearing the fleur-de-lis. You are making a statement. You have to justify why you would wear such a statement. ( You can make up lots of interesting stories. ) In the United States, they were sympathetic to Napoleon and viewed France as an ally. Your “reason” can be as simple as that. If you're in the UK, wearing the fleur-de-lis may be more politically correct. There’s a good explanation on this blog. regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/the-bees-of-napoleon/
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Post by Izodiea on Feb 13, 2011 20:13:32 GMT -5
That is an awesome article, thanks! I think I shall have fun thinking of a back-story
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