The Hymn to Ninkasi, Goddess of Beer: A Praise Song and Ancient Beer Recipe

"The Hymn to Ninkasi is at once a song of praise to Ninkasi, the Sumerian goddess of beer, and an ancient recipe for brewing, written down circa 1800 BCE."

"The Babylonians had at least 70 varieties of beer, and there were no doubt many more, which were either left unrecorded or evidence of them has not yet come to light."

"The recipe has been proven sound in the modern age in 1989, producing a beer reminiscent of champagne with a bouquet of dates, known to be an ancient sweetener in Mesopotamia."

"Evidence for brewing beer in the Mesopotamian region dates back to 3500-3100 BCE at the Sumerian settlement of Godin Tepe in modern-day Iran."

The Hymn to Ninkasi, dating around 1800 BCE, serves as both a tribute to the Sumerian goddess of beer and a brewing recipe. Scholars suggest the hymn reflects brewing techniques from a millennium earlier, with the Babylonians having at least 70 beer varieties. Likely preserved through oral tradition, its light-hearted tone contributed to its longevity. Modern experiments confirmed the recipe's validity, producing a beer reminiscent of champagne. Evidence of beer brewing in Mesopotamia dates back to 3500-3100 BCE, with archaeological findings supporting its ancient origins.

Read at World History Encyclopedia