In the book A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage it is explained how the Mesopotamians saw beer and bread as a way to distinguish those who are civilized and those who are savages. The Egyptians also cherished beer greatly and was a great deal of importance to them especially because it was used as an offering to their gods. In both cases beer holds an important value to both societies. Tom Standage explains the similarities between the Mesopotamian and Egyptian views and values of beer, and how it affected their religion and culture.
Tom Standage describes how beer was greatly engraved in both Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture. Standage explains that in Egyptian culture the phrases “to make a beer hall” and …show more content…
To the Mesopotamians the drinking of a lot of beer was something normal that was supposed to bring joy to oneself. It was smiled upon the Mesopotamian people. In many of the Mesopotamians stories and legends the consumption of many jugs of beer were always depicted as being “jolly” and “playful even after intoxication. This started bringing about their religion. Beer was so closely related to their Sumerian religion that the Mesopotamians would offer beer and a banquet of food in their temples. It was consumed by the priest and worshipers that were invoked in the presence of the Gods. The Mesopotamians explained in one of their stories regarding one of their demi-gods Gilgamesh and the civilization of its people. Once a savage named Enkidu was introduced to beer and bread by a young woman. In the story it foretells how once Enkidu had consumed the bread and beer he had now been considered a “human”. Now in the story it states the Enkidu had consumed seven jugs of beer and how he had become enlightened. Tom Standage brings about this story to show its audience how it connects to Mesopotamian religion. To the Mesopotamians, beer was used to distinguish those who were civilized and those who remained savage. Beer was similar to that of a catholic baptism in which when a person is dipped in holy water he is considered catholic. In …show more content…
Beer was important to both societies that it brought about customs such as feasts filled with jugs of beer, legends and stories about the association between beer and their gods. Beer had a role in everyone’s lives as the drink that represented their culture. Similar how today in our modern world a bag of popcorn cannot be enjoyed without some soda at the theaters, the eating of bread could not be done without beer. Beer was also engraved to their religions. Offerings of beer and food were brought upon temples and holy places for their gods. When worshiping, the consumption of bread and beer was necessary similar to how in some religions the consumption of bread and wine is necessary throughout the end of the worship or how in certain holidays specific foods are brought upon to feast on. That is the status which was held by beer. Culturally beer was essential, universal, and enjoyed by all of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The drink that everyone needed to celebrate! Religiously it was a drink that represented a man, a drink that was offered to the gods, and a drink that was used in stories involving the gods. Beer was truly a value that affected both culture and religion in these early