Bees are often linked to prophesy in Greek mythology. But when a swarm of wild bees settles in her garden, Bibi turns to Virgil’s Georgics and, surprisingly, another descent to Hades.

Extracts are from Book 4 of Virgil’s ‘Georgics’ translated by H. R. Fairclough; from Book 10 of Pausanias’, ‘Description of Greece’, translated by WHS Jones and from the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, translated by H. G. Evelyn-White.
All translations are in the public domain.

The title of this episode, ‘For a Swarm of Bees’, comes from an Anglo-Saxon metrical charm used to magically prevent bees from swarming!

The original violin compositions in this episode are by Chloe Dunn.
Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

Listen to our retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth: https://bit.ly/44kYzCd

Descend into the Underworld with the Trojan prince Aeneas and his fearless guide - the Cumaean Sibyl.

Bibi reads from Book 6 of Virgil’s Aeneid.

The translation is by H.R. Fairclough and is in the public domain.

Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

Ariadne finds herself abandoned on the island of Naxos after helping Theseus kill the Minotaur.

Bibi reads the tenth letter from Ovid’s Heroides.

The translation is by Grant Showerman and is in the public domain.

Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

When Jupiter and Mercury seek hospitality on earth, they find most doors are closed to them. Only one old couple takes them in. Punishment and reward follow.

Bibi reads from Book 8 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

The translation is by Henry Thomas Riley and is in the public domain.

Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

The goddess Ceres punishes Erysichthon in a surprisingly gruesome way when he cuts down her sacred tree. Bibi reads from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 8.

The translation is by Henry Thomas Riley.

Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

Discover the new show from the creators of Tales of the Night Sky.

A Monkeybird Production.