Ancient Egypt: Wine drinking

Wine was drunk by gods, kings, and nobles, especially at feasts, and was rated only slightly behind beer, which was the most common beverage of ancient Egypt. Amphorae, often painted with vine leaves, are depicted on tables or resting on stands. The wine was sieved as it was poured out. Servants would fill small beakers for serving, sometimes carrying a second small jug (possibly containing water to dilute the wine, but more likely a herbal concoction). The wine was drunk from bowls or amphorae (which sometimes rested on stands). The king Akhenaten and his family are shown drinking at the royal capital Tell-el-Amarna (14th century bc). Priests received wine as part of their daily rations, likewise army officers and foreign mercenaries; but the workmen of Amarna received none, an indication of its value. By contrast, the workers who had built the pyramids received a daily allotment of two ‘bottles’ or about 4–5 l/1-1.3 gal of beer.