The Apiarium, 1625

The Assayer (previous page) was not the only gift of the Lynx to the new pope. Galileo adapted the telescope into a new instrument, named a microscope by a member of the Lynx. In the Apiarium, the first publication of observations made with a microscope, Cesi and Stelluti studied the anatomy of the bee. (Figure 1) (Figure 2)

Along the top of this extremely rare document are ancient coins depicting bees (Figure 3) . Note the Barbarini crest, and the prominence of the Lynx. The text includes classical references to bees as well as new knowledge, integrated in a tabular outline. A translation of the Apiarium by Clara Sue Kidwell is available in Bizzell Library. She completed the translation as part of her PhD dissertation for the History of Science in 1970.

In a work of the same time, Stelluti published drawings. On the title page (Figure 4) , note the Barbarini bees, and the name of their patron, Francesco Barbarini. And the Lynx. A remarkable plate displays the bees (Figure 5) . Just as Galileo’s telescope brought near the Moon and stars, so the eyes of the Lynx could see the secrets of the small, portraying structures of the bee never seen before. (Figure 6) (Figure 7) (Figure 8)

Exhibit credit: Kerry Magruder, with the assistance of , Marilyn B. Ogilvie, Duane H. D. Roller.