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Has our hive not survived when so many others have perished?
— Mary Sibley about the Essex Hive[src]

A Hive, occasionally referred to as tribe, is a coven of witches.

Description

Did you never wonder what happened to the witches of the other old lands? The Scythians, the Magyars, the Roma? Only a handful of the old breeds survive, hidden in burrows or scattered like dust on the wind.
— Tituba[src]

A coven of witches specifically referred to as "hive," is an organization that acts for different purposes and may, in some cases, have rival factions within it, as members of the same hive may have different visions or purposes.[1] Hives appear to be seen with disdain by some cradle witches, such as Countess Von Marburg, who is averse to sharing power. The name, in fact, suggests a group of equals working together to achieve a common goal whereas the Countess aspires to be an undisputed queen.[2]

Salem-Promo-Still-S3E01-02-Good Mother and Witches

Witches gathered "from every dark place on the Earth" to greet the Dark Lord

Hives are present all over the world. Over the centuries, their numbers have diminished considerably due to in-fighting and rivalry between different hives of different cultures. Tituba reminded Mary Sibley of the fate of the Magyars, Scythians and Roma at the hands of the Countess, who sought to wipe out competition for her place beside the Dark Lord as his queen.[3] Witches who survived the witch hunting of early modern history in Europe fled to the Americas looking for a safe haven and a country of their own much like the Puritans escaping persecution did.[4]

Hierarchy

In some respects, the witches are not unlike us.
They have factions. They have power struggles.
— Increase Mather

Hives are governed according to a specific hierarchy, with distinctive laws. According to Countess Von Marburg, covens of witches are lead by a matriarchal hierarchy.[5] Depsite John Hale hailed from a bloodline of witches, for example, he submitted to Mary Sibley, a younger contract witch for about seven years, due to her being a woman. He also recognized her considerable power and role in the Grand Rite.[6] Increase Mather once stated that covens of witches are no different from Christian congregations and denominations, including an assembly of Elders as an inversion and counterpart to Puritans selectmen. He further explained to his son that covens consist of internal factions often in rivalry with each other. [7] According to John Hale, it is in the full right of an Elder to kill a fellow witch should they put in peril the safety of the rest of the hive.[7]

Each hive has a queen, known as the Queen of the Night and Samhain within the Essex Hive. The queen is elected and supported by the elders but can also ascend to power by decapitating the previous leader. Amongst the Essex Hive, the elders are distinguished between an inner circle, the Widdershins, and the Hags, emissaries who gather in the woods to meet the witches hiding in plain sight in town.[6] [8]

Known Hives

Several hives have been mentioned and depicted throughout the series. Below are listed the most famous and important, having played a decisive role in the events narrated. Some hives, such as the Scythians, the Magyars, the Roma suggests that some hives may be organized according to culture or ethnicity, while others like the Essex Hive or the rebel groups under Mercy Lewis' orders seem to be formed by disparate individuals united by common ideals.

Essex Hive

Main article: Essex Hive

The Essex Hive is a hive of endangered witches and the first hive in history to complete the Grand Rite after centuries of failures. Many of them died in Europe during the brutal witch hunts in the British Islands. They are considered with contempt by the Countess.[9] [10] Since these witches fled the Essex County to the New World, they have made Salem, Massachusetts their new home and haven. Before securing a deal with the Devil centuries ago, the ancestors of the Essex were a group of pagans worshiping nature.[11]

German Tribe

A tribe of Germanic witches that, according to Cotton Mather, worshiped an ancient pagan siren — an earlier incarnation of the Countess Von Marburg. The tribe was on the verge of completing the Grand Rite in Marburg where they abducted and sacrificed several children before Increase Mather halted the process by murdering their leader. Taking into account the words and pride of the Countess, it is possible that this tribe was formed by a higher lineage of witches than that of the Essex hive.[12]

Mercy Lewis's Children

Rogue witch Mercy Lewis shared her witchcraft with a group of friends including Dollie Trask and Emily Hopkins. After all her followers but Dollie were hanged, Mercy gathered outcasts from the outskirts of Salem — her children — to counter Mary Sibley and the Elders. They rejected Mercy's claim to lead alongside Mary based on the fact that Mercy had murdered the pervious Samhain, Rose Browning on Mary's order. The disenfranchised group was burned alive and shot by militiamen at the request of Mary Sibley with only Mercy and Dollie survive again.[13]

Memorable Quotes

Mab: "You've come here to kill me?"
John Hale: "It would be within my right to do so. The code of the hive is clear. But, no, we have agreed to spare you. I would allow nothing else. Still, to the issue at hand. He will interrogate you."
Mab: "And I will give him nothing. I will swallow the blackened pill before I betray the cause."
Departures

Mary Sibley: "If there is one thing you should take away from this conversation, child, it's this. You are in my hive, I'm your Samhain, and you are an Essex witch. You can not hide anything from me."
The Wine Dark Sea

Countess Von Marburg: "I will admit you're impressive for a common Essex witch."
Mary Sibley: "Has our hive not survived when so many others have perished?"
The Wine Dark Sea

Countess Von Marburg: "Your strength is also your weakness. You are, as you said, a hive filled with lovely, little bees, but no true queen. You are, in reality, mere sister drones, little, meek equals whose power is shared. Why? You're like the foot of a pyramid. But you will make a fine and mighty base for one more naturally designed to rule."
The Wine Dark Sea

Cotton Mather: "My father was the very scourge of witches in the old country not only in Old Essex, but also in Germany. There, he stopped this tribe of Germanic witches, led by this ancient pagan siren that he sent back to Hell. He often told me that was his proudest moment."
Ill Met by Moonlight

Sebastian Von Marburg: "O’ brothers and sisters, gathered here from every dark place on the Earth. We have so long been orphans of the great gone gods, but no longer. Our Father has come home. Their God is dead or lost in senile slumber. But not ours. Our God, their devil, is alive. Awake. And now, finally, he’s here."
After the Fall

Dark Lord: "What tribe of witches is so exalted that they will not bend the knee before me? "
Good Mother: "The Essex witches, my Lord. It is we Essex who brought you forth to walk the earth again."
After the Fall

Trivia

  • Hive is a term for coven originated in Salem.
  • The Samhain takes her name from the festival of the same name at the basis of the modern celebration of Halloween.
  • Queen of the Night comes from the opera The Magic Flute.

Gallery

References

  1. Elizabeth Sarnoff, Tricia Small (writer) & Alex Zakrzewski (director). May 4, 2014, 2014. "In Vain". Salem. Season 1. Episode 3. WGN.
  2. Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders (writer) & Nick Copus (director). July 13, 2014. "Ill Met by Moonlight". Salem. Season 2. Episode 6. WGN.
  3. Turi Meyer & Al Septien (writer) & Peter Weller (director). July 13, 2014. "The Wine Dark Sea". Salem. Season 2. Episode 5. WGN.
  4. Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Richard Shepard (director). April 20, 2014. "The Vow". Salem. Season 1. Episode 1. WGN.
  5. Donna Thorland & Adam Simon (writer) & Alex Zakrzewski (director). July 13, 2014. "Midnight Never Come". Salem. Season 2. Episode 12. WGN.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Jon Harmon Feldman (writer) & David Von Ancken (director). May 11, 2014. "Survivors". Salem. Season 1. Episode 4. WGN.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Jon Harmon Feldman (writer) & Alex Zakrzewski (director). June 8, 2014. "Departures". Salem. Season 1. Episode 8. WGN.
  8. Adam Simon (writer) & Tim Andrews (director). November 9, 2016. "The Heart Is A Devil". Salem. Season 3. Episode 2. WGN.
  9. Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Allan Arkush (director). July 13, 2014. "Blood Kiss". Salem. Season 2. Episode 2. WGN.
  10. Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson (writer) & Tim Andrews (director). July 13, 2014. "Til Death Do Us Part". Salem. Season 2. Episode 10. WGN.
  11. Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders (writer) & Jennifer Lynch (director). January 4, 2017. "The Man Who Was Thursday". Salem. Season 3. Episode 7. WGN.
  12. Donna Thorland & Adam Simon (writer) & Joe Dante (director). July 13, 2014. "The Beckoning Fair One". Salem. Season 2. Episode 7. WGN.
  13. Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Nick Copus (director). July 13, 2014. "Cry Havoc". Salem. Season 2. Episode 1. WGN.

See Als

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