Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: "A"

From Brewer's Dictionary: Athenian Bee, The - PLATO, a native of Athens, was so called from the tradition that a swarm of bees alighted on his mouth when he was in his cradle, so that thereafter his words flowed with the sweetness of honey. See also ATTIC BEE.

Attic bee, The - Sophocles, the Athenian tragic poet, so called from the sweetness of his compositions.[1. I had no idea that "Attic" meant "of Athens"]