Drinking like a Scythian

Drinking Customs, Early History

Drinking like a Scythian Spirits of the Steppe: Scythian Drinking Culture In the vast tapestry of the Eurasian steppe, the Scythians emerge as a nomadic mosaic, a confluence of tribes tracing their origins to modern-day Iran. Between 900 and 200 BCE, they roamed...

The Visier Rod

Early History, Science

The Visier Rod Kepler’s Revolutionary Work: A New Era in Wine Barrel Measurement The work “Nova stereometria doliorum vinariorum”  by Johannes Kepler from the year 1615 marks a turning point in the history of barrel measurement, where the practical...

Bacchanalia

Drinking Gods, Myths & Fairytales, Early History

Bacchanalia An ancient Roman festival venerating the God of Wine Bacchanalia, an ancient Roman festival venerating Bacchus, the god of wine and fertility, stands as a vibrant testament to the intertwining of revelry, culture, and mythology. The festival was inspired...

The Mystery Drink Shedeh

Early History

The Mystery Drink Shedeh Unlocking the Mysteries of Shedeh: Ancient Egypt’s Enigmatic Drink Revealed For centuries, Shedeh, an ancient Egyptian beverage, shrouded itself in mystery, leaving scholars worldwide debating its origin. Was it a pomegranate wine or...

The First Golden Straw

Early History

The First Golden Straw Interpreting Gold and Silver Tubes in Maikop Kurgan In 1897, archaeologists excavated a burial mound known as the Maikop kurgan in southern Russia, unveiling a wealth of artifacts, including eight gold and silver tubes believed to be scepters or...

Kottabos

Early History

Kottabos A Fascinating Ancient Greek Drinking Game Kottabos, an ancient Greek drinking game popular in Athens and southern Italy during the 6th to 4th centuries BCE, involved skillfully throwing wine towards a target. Played at symposiums, it used a metal pole, plate,...

Maria Prophetissa

Early History

Maria Prophetissa Distillation Pioneer and Enduring Influence on Chemistry Maria Prophetessa, a prominent figure in alchemy during the 1st to 3rd century A.D. in Alexandria, Egypt, left an indelible mark on the field, particularly in distillation. Credited with...

Symposium

Early History

Symposium Symposium originally stood for “drinking together” that took place after a meal of a banquet in ancient Greece. Poetry and music were central to the pleasures of a symposium. In Ancient Greece guests would gather around the altar of the home after the meal...

Where The Spirits Come From…

Early History

Where The Spirits Come From… Tracing the Origins: “Spirits” in Alcoholic Beverages The origin of the term “spirits” for alcoholic beverages can be traced back to the Latin word “spiritus,” which encompasses the concepts of...