Meeting the Melissae: The Ancient Greek Bee Priestesses of Demeter

by Elizabeth Ashley

The Eleusinian Mysteries were the most prestigious initiation of the ancient world. The ritual’s secrets were protected by death vows and have been speculated about for more than 4,000 years. The nine-day festival was run by a group of women called Melissae, or “bees”: married women, second only in rank to the Priestess of Athena Polias, who presided over Athens. They amassed incredible wealth, fame, and political status. Temple accounts from the period reveal that it was the priestesses’ money that paid for Greece's glorious architecture. Fees were earned for sacrifices and granting access to divinity. In return, the priestess made Greece a magnificent place to live. Oracles, diviners, soul midwives and creatrixes of innumerable festivals, these women ensured that the city-state kept favour with the goddess. They achieved that by emulating the ways of the world’s most successful matriarchal community, a bee colony. Herbal textbooks speak of a relationship between these women and the Lemon Balm herb (Melissa officinalis). Journey into the past and into the enchanting dreamscape of the hive with aromatherapist Elizabeth Ashley. A delightful odyssey for anyone interested in herbal wisdom, ancient Greek history, female empowerment, and humankind’s greatest allies, the bees.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Goddess

360 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2023

About the author

Elizabeth Ashley is one of the world’s foremost essential oil researchers. Unlike other authorities in the aromatherapy field she looks at the medicine of a plant from every angle, searching for the very earliest archaeological evidence of its spiritual and medicinal uses, right up to the latest discoveries from clinical trials and the labs.

Her unique writing style is engaging and simple to follow, making her the first preference for both professionals and newbie therapists alike.

The daughter of one of the first aromatherapists in the UK, and one of the founder members of the International Federation of Aromatherapists, she began her professional journey into essential oils back in 1992. Following on from her diploma, she then completed her Advanced diploma in 1994, followed by certificates in Medical Dowsing and Medical Astrology and in 1996, was awarded The Business Excellence Award by Business Link.

In 1999, after working for seven years in the family aromatherapy business, she decided to break away and try something new, entering the world of commercial recruitment. There she learned a skill that set her apart from pretty much any other aromatherapist she has ever met…how to sell gently in a fiercely aggressive sales arena. In the 21st Century, this is the most perfect description of the essential oil’s world.

Every aspect of this is woven through The Secret Healer books, because Ashley fervently believes aromatherapy is set to become one of the single most important healing modalities on the planet, but that most therapists lack the skills to seize that opportunity since certifications and diplomas simply do not focus on business and how to speak the language of essential oils. Her books seek to level the playing field between fact and fiction, orthodox medicine and us!

The UK Director for the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists and an overseas speaker for the International Federation of Aromatherapists, she is also regular contributor for several professional and trade magazines. She writes about aromatherapy for Aromatika, where her work is translated into Hungarian, Aromaculture, and the NAHA Journal, and about sales and business for Holistic Therapist magazine, and has previously been professionally published by In Essence, the Aromatherapy Thymes, the IFA Journal and The New Zealand Register for Professional Therapists.

In 2018, together with Hungarian aromatherapist Gergely Hollodi she hosted the world’s biggest online summit for professional aromatherapists, Beyond The Essential Oil Recipe Summit, hosting interviews with of the other most respected authorities in aromatherapy.

Download the first Secret Healer book for free on Amazon, Kobo, Nook and Itunes.

Reviews

[Liserli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Si je pouvais lui mettre 0, je l'aurais fait. Ce livre est vide, que du brassage d'air en terme de connaissances historiques. Par contre, il est rempli de la vision fantasmée du passé de l'autrice, d'appropriation culturelle à tout va (du shamanisme, de l'hindouisme, de la médecine chinoise, ...), de biais de confirmation et de Féminin sacré new age. L'autrice fait des liens tirés par les cheveux pour démontrer qu'elle a raison, n'a aucune méthodologie et ne fait que très peu mention de ses sources. Au final, on ressort de cette lecture en ne sachant rien des prêtresses abeilles de Déméter et Korê. Elle passe son temps à imaginer la vie des prêtresses antiques en la romantisant et en refusant la réalité de l'époque. Et je ne parle même pas des chapitres sur les célébrations, qui sont incomplets au possible.

L'autrice prend tout ce qui ressemble de près ou de loin à un lien avec des abeilles et mélange tout, sans remettre dans son contexte, dans sa tradition, sans en respecter les spécificités. Et parlons un peu de son obsession malsaine pour l'utérus, au point où elle affirme dans le plus grand des calmes que Apollon et Python soufflait leurs oracles dans le vagin de leurs prêtresses. Elle n'arrête pas de mentionner également "the womb shamanism" et "the bee shamanism" qui sont des inventions bien new age qui n'ont rien à voir avec les vraies traditions shamaniques et qui sont même irrespectueuses envers elles.

Je ne recommande en aucun cas ce livre, bien au contraire. Si vous cherchez des informations sur le culte de Déméter et Korê, ou même sur les prêtresses abeilles antiques, tournez-vous plutôt vers de vraies recherches d'historiens.

[Melisa Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly there's is nothing else like this book out there tracing the honey bee to the Goddess and Priestess throughout time. It's amazing.

[Foxlynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the beginning and middle, but towards the end it was more about others than The Melissae, and it was honestly kinda of boring. Also just too much talk about vaginas and fertility. Which I know is important in the ancient days--procreation--but surely The Melissae are more than fertility and vaginas. There's way more to it than that, of course. Like I said it just got boring at the end. But overall I learned a lot and I did enjoy the book. I do recommend.

[Gembee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is a real deep dive into the Melissae. Feel I need to read it again to take it all in.

[Maranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a full review posted on my blog! https://whiteroseofavalon.life/2025/0...