Beer In Mesopotamia And Egypt

Beer was discovered accidentally in Mesopotamia and Egypt when humans were transitioning from the period of being hunter gatherers to farmers. During this time, people found that cereal grains were a dependable source of food that could be stored for long intervals of time, and were looking for ways to do so; since water sometimes got into their storage containers, people learned that grain immersed in water would taste sweet, producing beer. Another discovery was that gruel left alone for a few days fermented, also creating beer. Having learned the pleasure of beer, Mesopotamians and Egyptians added different flavorings to the drink, and used it for various occasions. In the time period of its creation, beer fit into the regional interactions
in Mesopotamia and Egypt as a beverage that served as a social drink, played a role in their religious beliefs, and was distributed similar to currency. As a social drink, people shared beer using straws, showing the drink was not poisoned, making the practice a sign of friendship and hospitality. Since grains became an abundant crop, beer, which was also known as liquid bread, and bread, or solid beer, became a staple of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, and the phrase “bread and beer” turned into a wish of good luck and health. Not only was beer a social drink, but it also was used in religious ceremonies and was buried with the dead. Since the people believed that beer was a gift shared with them from the gods, they would offer beer to their gods. In addition, families buried beer with their beloved ones to feed them in the afterlife. Lastly, beer was also used similar to currency. Sumerian temple workers were supplied different amounts of beer based off their position. Similarly, the laborers who worked on the pyramids in Giza were also paid using beer. Furthermore, refugees were also given rations of beer. Also, bride prices were paid partly in beer. In order to keep track of the allocation of beer, tokens with symbols were used. Later, tablets of clay, also with symbols, were used instead since they were easier to use. The symbols they used, also known as cuneiform, was the first system of writing. Beer in the time of its creation was seen as a friendly social drink in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and it continues to be one today’s society. In the period of beer’s creation, people drank from a single jar using straws, symbolizing trust that the drink was not poisoned. While nowadays people do not drink beer from the same jar, the clinking of drinks reunites the individual glasses together, following the ancient tradition where people drank from one jar. Additionally, it continues to be a friendly drink. In the past, beer was seen as something magical, as a gift from the gods, and was used in medicine as a sedative. Although it is no longer used in medicine, toasting to someone’s health traces back to the belief that beer was magical. Besides being a social drink, beer was also used as currency in the past. Even though it is no longer used as currency, it is still a staple of a working man.