Carved on many First Empire graves, this insect symbolises both hard work and immortality. Which insect?
The answer
The bee was Napoleon's emblem: it was said to have already been present on the tomb of Childeric I, which rooted it in a very ancient royal lineage. On graves, it speaks of diligence in work and of the survival of the hive beyond the individual — a quiet way of hoping that something endures.
This question belongs to the “The Animals of Père-Lachaise” series of the Père-Lachaise quiz: ten questions, a story behind every right answer.