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Egypt and beer
Egyptians aren’t just one of the earliest brewers but Cleopatra was the first ruler to introduce beer tax.
Here are a few important facts about beer, and Egypt:
* The pyramids were built on beer – the slaves who built them, were entitled by law to a daily ration of beer.
* Egyptians used a beer as a currency to pay slaves, tradesmen, priests and public officials alike, which means that every Egyptian was entitled to a certain amount of daily beer.
* Beer became so popular in ancient Egypt that no ruler dared to put a tax. However, in the middle of the last Century BC, Cleopatra invented the world’s first beer tax. It’s been with us ever since.
* The Egyptians did not invent beer – that was the Sumerians – but they were the world’s earliest brewers.
* In Egypt, beer was regarded as food.
* The god of dead, Osiris, was hailed as the guardian of beer.
* Beer was considered as the nectar of the gods.
* The pharaohs turned brewing into a state monopoly and strictly licensed brewing rights to entrepreneurs and priests.
* Many temples opened their own breweries and pubs, all in the service of the gods.
* Rich Egyptian’s frequently went out accompanied by two slaves and a hammock, so they could be carried home after a heavy night in the pub.
