Posted on 09/02/2010 6:53:45 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Oh, there are tons of references to beer in ancient Israel, including recipes on cuniform tablets.
I don’t know enough about the NIV to doubt it, but given the historical context of beer certainly being an important winter foodstuff in the ME, I have little reason to doubt the NIV in that regard.
Your link is interesting; note that barley (when eaten) is usually used in soup -— again because it is a tough seed. This quote confirmed what I suspected as barley’s use:
“Approximately 51 percent of the barley crop consumed in the US is used for animal feed. Forty-four percent is used for malt production [e.g., for beer], 3 percent as seed and 2 percent for food products.”
There’s a professor at U. Penn. who is REALLY into ancient beers and their ingredients. He works with industry to create new recipes. Probably worth a google for you if you are interested in ancient beers.
Utilizing the technology of the day, about the only tall imposing structure that COULD be build, was, by necessity, a pyramid.
There is no great mystery or unknown techniques required to build a pyramid like the Egyptian ones, and we could do so with modern technology much quicker and with much less manpower.
Aqua vitae (Latin) and Uisce Beatha (Gaelic, pronounced approximately WISH-ka BA-ha, the “t” being silent that context, in modern Gaelic at least), both translate “water of life”, it’s true. Uisce Beahta got anglicized to Whiskebaugh, which eventually became Whiskey.
However, it’s a mistake to assume that just because something has a Latin name, that it’s of Roman vintage. For many centuries afterward, all clergy and most educated people learned Latin regardless of their native language. So when something new was introduced from a foreign land, the Latin name was often the first one given it.
Alcohol distillation was discovered by medieval Arab alchemists. Yes, alchemy and alchemist, root of “chemistry”, are Arabic words too.. along with algebra, algorithm, alembic (the old word for still), and a few other scientific words. (Islam didn’t ALWAYS make people stupid). The Arabs regarded al-kohol as a medicine; perhaps the medicinal excuse was just a clever way around the ban on liquor (cf WC Fields), or perhaps, in the days of universal bad water and no effective wound-antiseptics, their assessment was not so far off. I don’t know how it got to the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland but they sure ran with it. (Linguistic note; al- is “the” in Arabic, which is why so many Arabic loanwords begin in al-).
You’re probably wondering how I know all this arcane garbage. My ancestry is mostly Irish and Scottish, I studied Gaelic for 2 years, I made moonshine in my garage as a teenager, and I have Ph.D. in chemistry. However, I’m not a whisky drinker.... 12 or 14 generations ago, my direct male line ancestor was a Huguenot, which may explain my preference for Cabernet Sauvignon!
ping to post 64... and Slainte!
Thanks Rytwyng, and nice nick!
But the facts remain that they were not demonstrably smarter than us, and there was no technical expertise that they had that we do not to replicate the feat. Thus the statement that they were smarter than us, and they knew how to build the Great Pyramids and we do not is based upon nothing but ignorance.
The only sort of large imposing structure that COULD be built by their technology was, by necessity, a pyramid.
And while the craftsmanship and placement and such were all top notch, there is no great “mystery of the Pyramid” that would make replication of their feat impossible in modern times.
bttt
I agree. I think what is hard to fathom is the incredible commitment at that early stage of civilization to build such massive and durable structures with just man and animal power. They have to be the most durable ever built by man . . .
I am more than glad to be better informed.
All I knew is that both languages had the same phrase, but I didn’t know if it applied to the same ‘drink’ or not.
As a descendant of Scots and Icelanders, cheers!!!
Correct, beer to the sad, strong drink to the dying.
Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
I had to re-read the thread to find out what I had said.
Wine for some reason was the drink of choice. Maybe because fruit crops failed less often the grain crops.
http://www.masada2000.org/israel-stats.html
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.
In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).
Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US. Israel with 7 million people attracted $2 billion in venture capital in 2008, as much venture capital that flowed in the United Kingdom with 61 million people, and as much that flowed into Germany and France with 145 million people.
Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK..............
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Est 8:9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are] from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
Dogfish Head makes "Midas Touch", based on the recipe used to make the funeral brew of King Midas. The ingredients, according to the archaologist, were barley, honey, grapes, and saffron (the last being an embittering agent, since hops hadn't been domesticated yet.) The problem is, what to call it? Beer is made from grain, mead from honey, wine from grapes... what do you call a brew of all 3? They ended up calling it an "ale".
It's really, really good.
http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/midas-touch.htm
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