APPENDIX A 



THE DRINKING CUSTOMS OF THE ANCIENT 

 EGYPTIANS 



CONTRIBUTED BY DR A F. R. PLATT, M.B. 



I. Wine and beer are known to have been used by the Ancient 

 Egyptians from earliest times. 



The oldest known tombs (in the historic -^t-naii) constantly refer 

 to wine and beer amongst the offerings to the dead (IV. Dynasty, 

 B.C. 3998-3969). Recent discoveries during the past five years 

 or so have brought to light tombs of kings of the first three 

 Dynasties. Curiously enough some of the things found therein 

 are the clay sealings (with the king's name) on wine jars.^ (See 

 Petrie's "History of Egypt," vol. i. 4th edition, 1899, p. 17 

 et seg.). This carries back the use of wine to B.C. 5000 at least. 



2. Drinking was carried to excess. 



" Further on a beer-house stands The Egyptian is 



sober as a rule, but when he allows himself a ' good day ' he never 

 deprives himself of the pleasure of drinking, and has no objection 

 to intoxication. The beer-house openly frequented by some, 

 secretly by others, always has an excellent trade . . . the habitual 

 customers sit side by side fraternally drinking beer, wine, palm 

 brandy (shodou) ... the wine is preserved in large amphoras, 

 pitched outside, and closed with a wooden or clay stopper, over 

 which some mud is laid, painted blue, and then stamped with the 

 name of the owner or reigning Pharaoh. An inscription in ink, 

 traced upon the jar, indicates the origin and exact date of the 



1 The vine, the wine-press, jars of wine adorned with garlands, 

 slaves handing the wine round at feasts, are all found in the wall- 

 paintings of tombs of various periods. 



