Bees have been a part of human history for as long scientists can tell. In fact, there are theories that bees and their honey were very important to early man because the words for honey, bees and beeswax are similar in widely dispersed areas such as China, France, and Iceland.
Early man thought the bees were heaven sent. And because they had the ability to find their ways back home from over long distance, bees were seen as representative of the soul. They came to be associated with sexuality and fertility. The bee's detailed, organized hive has made it also a symbol of social order and cleanliness. They also project the image of hard working and a symbol of good. The phrase "busy bee" comes from the image of bees gathering honey and working individually in their hives for the colony's greatergood. Killing bees is considered bad luck.
Bee tattoos represent a "taking care of business" attitude, toughness and industrialism.
