Sumer

Sumer in Ancient Sumer (3500–1900 bc), the earliest literate civilization of southern mesopotamia, wine and beer were both widely consumed, and are often mentioned as being drunk on the same occasion. ‘Wine’ almost certainly refers to grape wine in most contexts, although date wine was also prepared by the Sumerians.

At the sacred city of Nippur, just downstream from Babylon, which stood on an important branch of the river Euphrates, the principal quay of the temple was known as the ‘Quay of the Vine’, although it is not clear if this refers to an original commercial activity, irrigation, or is simply an ornate epithet of the sort beloved of Sumerian poets. In praise poetry addressed to King Shulgi, who was deified in his own lifetime (c.22nd century bc), the king’s martial prowess with the double-edged axe is eulogized with the image of him ‘spilling his enemies’ blood on the mountain-side like the contents of a smashed wine jug’.