How Beer Helped Build The Pyramids

The workers who built the pyramids of Giza were paid in beer, receiving a daily ration of 4 to 5 litres of the drink. Beer was a staple of the Egyptian diet and was also used as a form of currency and medicine. It was consumed by men, women, and children, and was considered a source of nutrition rather than just an intoxicant. The ancient Egyptian brew was thick and dark red, with added dates and honey for sugar and higher alcohol content.

The builders of the pyramids were paid in beer

The ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids were paid with beer for their labour. In fact, beer was a common form of payment for work in ancient Egypt. Workers received a daily ration of 10 pints of 5% beer, which is equivalent to drinking 10 pints of a strong lager. This was a significant amount, considering that beer was treated principally as a type of food and was consumed daily. It was also considered a source of nutrition and was often prescribed for health reasons.

The ancient Egyptian beer was a hearty, starchy brew with a divine status. It was so valued that it was offered to the souls of the dead and was one of the most common grave goods placed in tombs. Beer was also considered the best offering to the gods. The goddess Hathor, known as the "Lady of Drunkenness", was associated with beer, along with several other gods and goddesses.

The process of brewing beer was well-established in ancient Egypt, with women being the first brewers. The beer was made from fermented grain and had a thick, brothy consistency that had to be filtered before drinking. It was often flavoured with dates and honey, which increased the alcohol content and improved the taste. The ancient Egyptians consumed beer daily and in large quantities during religious festivals and celebrations.

The practice of paying workers with beer was not limited to ancient Egypt. In the Middle Ages, records show that the poet Geoffrey Chaucer was paid an annual salary that included a "tonel" of wine, which amounted to roughly 252 gallons. Even in modern times, some employers continue this tradition, offering free alcohol to employees as a perk or as a means to help alcoholics get their lives together.

Beer was consumed three times a day

The workers were paid in beer, receiving a daily ration of a gallon and a third of the stuff. This was the equivalent of ten pints of 5% beer per day. In addition to beer, there were four kinds of wine available.

The ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to perfect the art of brewing beer. They altered the Sumerian brewing methods to create a smoother, lighter brew that could be poured into a cup or glass for consumption. Egyptian beer is most often cited as the ''first beer' in the world because it has more in common with modern-day beer than the Mesopotamian recipe.

Beer was considered a source of nutrition for the ancient Egyptians, not just an intoxicant. It was also used as medicine, with over 100 recipes for medicines including beer. It was also thought to confuse the evil spirits, which were considered the cause of many diseases.

Beer was a staple of the Egyptian diet

The ancient Egyptians produced and consumed beer in huge volumes. It was so essential that it was treated principally as a type of food. Beer was also considered a source of nutrition, not just an intoxicant, and was consumed by men, women, and children alike. It was often prescribed for health reasons, as it was believed to "gladden the heart" and confuse the evil spirits that were thought to cause diseases.

The process of brewing beer was first developed by women in Egypt, with brewing and baking often undertaken by women in the home. Later, brewing became a state-funded industry presided over by men. However, even during this time, many households continued to brew their own beer.

The beer produced by the ancient Egyptians was quite different from the beer we know today. It was thick and dark red, with a fruity taste, and was likely to be served cold and fizzy. The brewing process did not include boiling or the use of hops, which were not introduced until the medieval period. Instead, dates and honey were added for sweetness and higher alcohol content. The beer was also likely to be consumed through straws, which helped to strain out the sediment.

Overall, beer played a significant role in ancient Egyptian society, not just as a staple of their diet but also as a form of payment, a medicine, and an important part of religious and cultural festivals.

Beer was considered nutritious

The workers who built the pyramids of Giza were given a daily ration of 1⅓ gallons (over 10 pints) of beer. Beer was so essential that it was treated principally as a type of food. It was also considered divine, with several gods and goddesses associated with it. Hathor, the goddess of love, dance, and beauty, was also known as 'The Lady of Drunkenness'.

The ancient Egyptian beer-making process was quite different from the modern one. The beer was made using a two-stage mash of ground, malted, and unmalted grain, which was then left to ferment in a terracotta vessel containing a harvested yeast culture. The terracotta vessel's porous interior provided an ideal surface for the wild yeast to grow and helped keep the beer cool in the hot, arid climate. The beer was drunk while still actively fermenting and was likely to have been consumed through clay drinking straws to prevent the consumption of sediment.

While the exact nutritional content of ancient Egyptian beer is not known, it was considered a nutritious and essential part of the diet, providing both calories and hydration for the workers who built the pyramids.

Beer was used as medicine

In the 18th century, beer was often seen as a safe alternative to contaminated drinking water. Wouter van Lis, for instance, ran a beer brewery and published a treatise on beer brewing in 1745. However, beer consumption was decreasing in the 18th century, and he eventually sold his brewery.

During Prohibition in the United States, an odd alliance of brewers, physicians, and imbibers attempted to convince Congress that beer was vital medicine. They argued for the right of physicians to prescribe "medical beer," and this sparked a national debate. While some saw this as an attempt to play fast and loose with the law, others saw it as a matter of life and death. Ultimately, Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer issued an opinion declaring that doctors could prescribe beer at any time and in any amount they deemed appropriate. However, this decision led to further court challenges and questions, and Congress took up the so-called "beer emergency bill," which banned beer prescriptions altogether.

In ancient times, beer was also used as a form of payment and compensation. Workers who built the pyramids, for example, were paid in beer, receiving a daily ration of about a gallon and a third.

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