In the Land of Ninkasi

Abstract

In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia tells the story of the world's first great beer culture. It provides a close-up look at the beers of ancient Mesopotamia and the people who brewed and drank them. The book takes readers on a journey across the famous “land between the rivers” to visit the breweries, houses, taverns, temples, and tombs where beer was produced and consumed. It explains how beer was brewed and the brewing equipment employed. It also explores the stories that people told about beer, their preferred styles of drinking, the beer-drinking gods and goddesses that governed their lives, and the modern brewers who have brought their beverages back to life. This authoritative but light-hearted account weaves together insights drawn from archaeological remains, ancient works of art, and cuneiform texts in order to pull the reader, step-by-step, into the process of analysis and interpretation.