Aristaeus, in Greek mythology, was a minor god, protector and creator of various arts, such as cheese making and bee keeping. His parents were the god Apollo and the huntress Cyrene. He married Autonoe, daughter of King Cadmus of Thebes who was also the city's founder. Together, they had two children, Actaeon and Macris.
When Aristaeus was born, he was taken by Hermes who fed him nectar and ambrosia, while Gaea gave him immortality. The nymphs taught him how to make cheese, bee keeping, and many other crafts. He later passed on this knowledge to humanity.