Bees, Honey, and Honey Wine in the Roman Legal Sources

Abstract

Under Roman law, property could be acquired on bees belonging to no one by occupation, which was realized by enclosing them in hives. Ownership of the bees was maintained until they lost their habit of returning. Hives and bees belonged to the plant of the land. The usufruct of a land was also extended to bees. In the case of bequeathing, honey was classified as food and honey wine as a sweet. The making of honey wine was considered in some cases a combination, in other cases a specification. Diocletian fixed maximum market prices of the different types of honey.