Zythum (from Latin, based on Greek: ζῦθος, zŷthos), sometimes also known as zythus or zythos,[1][2] was a malt beer made in ancient Egypt.[3] The earliest existing records of brewing relate to the production of zythum by ancient Egyptians, c. 2000 BCE.[1]
Zythum comes from a Greek word meaning "ferment". The Latin name is a transcription of the Greek. The Egyptian name for beer was hqt,[4] sometimes written as hemeket.[1]
Recipeedit
The principal ingredient was malted grain, either emmer wheat or barley or both together.[2] It is often said that yeast was added by lightly baking bread and using crumbled bread to start the fermentation. This, however, is not supported by archaeological finds, which suggest instead that cooked grain and malted grain were combined, producing a mixture that contained sufficient sugar for fermentation.[5]
A very different recipe is mentioned in the third tractate of the Babylonian Talmud (42b).[6] According to Rav Yosef b. Hiyya, it contains 1⁄3 barley, 1⁄3safflower seed and 1⁄3 salt. Rav Papa substituted wheat for barley. The ingredients were steeped, roasted and ground.
Apart from recreational drinking, zythum was used as an ancient Egyptian medicine. It was said to work as both a laxative and antidiarrhoeal. Its use was thought dangerous for sick people and pregnant women.
^ abcZaruwa, M. Z.; Ibok, N. U.; Ibok, I. U. (2014), Emeagwali, Gloria; Dei, George J. Sefa (eds.), "Traditional Brewing Technique in Northern Nigeria", African Indigenous Knowledge and the Disciplines, Rotterdam: SensePublishers, pp. 23–28, doi:10.1007/978-94-6209-770-4_3, ISBN978-94-6209-770-4, retrieved 2023-02-16
^Delwen Samuel, "Brewing and baking" in P. T. Nicholson, I. Shaw, eds, Ancient Egyptian materials and technology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000) pp. 537-576, especially 555-557
^Norman Solomon, ed. (2009). "Third Tractate Pesahim (The Passover)". The Talmud: A Selection. Penguin. pp. 148, 150. ISBN978-0-14-144178-8.
External linksedit
Zythos, Hellenica
January 01, 1970
zythum, from, latin, based, greek, ζῦθος, zŷthos, sometimes, also, known, zythus, zythos, malt, beer, made, ancient, egypt, earliest, existing, records, brewing, relate, production, zythum, ancient, egyptians, 2000, contents, name, recipe, medicinal, propertie. Zythum from Latin based on Greek zῦ8os zŷthos sometimes also known as zythus or zythos 1 2 was a malt beer made in ancient Egypt 3 The earliest existing records of brewing relate to the production of zythum by ancient Egyptians c 2000 BCE 1 Contents 1 Name 2 Recipe 3 Medicinal properties 4 Legacy 5 References 6 External linksName editZythum comes from a Greek word meaning ferment The Latin name is a transcription of the Greek The Egyptian name for beer was hqt 4 sometimes written as hemeket 1 Recipe editThe principal ingredient was malted grain either emmer wheat or barley or both together 2 It is often said that yeast was added by lightly baking bread and using crumbled bread to start the fermentation This however is not supported by archaeological finds which suggest instead that cooked grain and malted grain were combined producing a mixture that contained sufficient sugar for fermentation 5 A very different recipe is mentioned in the third tractate of the Babylonian Talmud 42b 6 According to Rav Yosef b Hiyya it contains 1 3 barley 1 3 safflower seed and 1 3 salt Rav Papa substituted wheat for barley The ingredients were steeped roasted and ground Medicinal properties editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Apart from recreational drinking zythum was used as an ancient Egyptian medicine It was said to work as both a laxative and antidiarrhoeal Its use was thought dangerous for sick people and pregnant women Legacy editAmong Orthodox Jews it is forbidden during Passover because it contains barley making it chametz although the punishment of kareth is not applicable to its consumption citation needed References edit a b c Zaruwa M Z Ibok N U Ibok I U 2014 Emeagwali Gloria Dei George J Sefa eds Traditional Brewing Technique in Northern Nigeria African Indigenous Knowledge and the Disciplines Rotterdam SensePublishers pp 23 28 doi 10 1007 978 94 6209 770 4 3 ISBN 978 94 6209 770 4 retrieved 2023 02 16 a b Dzino Danijel 2017 01 01 Sabaiarius Beer wine and Ammianus Marcellinus Brill ISBN 978 90 04 34485 3 Rupp T 2020 Beer and brewing Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics Oxford Beer in Ancient Egypt at Ancient Egypt Online Delwen Samuel Brewing and baking in P T Nicholson I Shaw eds Ancient Egyptian materials and technology Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2000 pp 537 576 especially 555 557 Norman Solomon ed 2009 Third Tractate Pesahim The Passover The Talmud A Selection Penguin pp 148 150 ISBN 978 0 14 144178 8 External links editZythos Hellenica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zythum amp oldid 1172559297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
