DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0030
14 DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE EGYPTIANS.
long and fourteen broad, drawn by 600 men, which contained
3000 jars of wine.
The Egyptians, also, at an early time, had excellent beer,
which, in default of hops, was flavoured by lupins, skirret, and
an Assyrian root. The " bitter ale " made by the Basses
and Allsops of Pelusium was noted as the best; and we may
suppose it was by no means bad when praised by the Greeks,
who held beer in great contempt; for Diodorus, a native of a
wine country, considers it scarcely inferior to the juice of the
grape. Its use, however, was mostly confined to those who
could not afford good wine; and the paintings do not mention
it at parties given by wealthy Egyptians.
They were particularly fond of music and dancing; the most
austere priest could not give an entertainment without a good
band of musicians and professional dancers, as well as plenty of
wine, rich ointments and perfumes, a profusion of flowers, and
a capital dinner. Tumblers, jugglers, and various artistes
skilled in feats of agility, were engaged for the occasion; and
the guests themselves played at games of chance, at mora, so
common now in Italy, odd and even, draughts, and other
favourite pastimes. These were all of very old date, at least as
early as the fourth dynasty, more tban 4000 years ago.* In mora
each player threw out the fingers of one hand while he endea-
voured to guess the united sum of both: the game was in later
times common in Eorne, and is now played by every idler in an
Italian street.
Draughts was a favourite game of all ranks; and King
Bemeses III. is more than once represented playing at it in
the palace at Thebes. The number of men cannot exactly be
ascertained; they were of different colours on the opposite side
of the board, and were not flat pieces like our own, but about
* Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians, vol. i. p. 190.
long and fourteen broad, drawn by 600 men, which contained
3000 jars of wine.
The Egyptians, also, at an early time, had excellent beer,
which, in default of hops, was flavoured by lupins, skirret, and
an Assyrian root. The " bitter ale " made by the Basses
and Allsops of Pelusium was noted as the best; and we may
suppose it was by no means bad when praised by the Greeks,
who held beer in great contempt; for Diodorus, a native of a
wine country, considers it scarcely inferior to the juice of the
grape. Its use, however, was mostly confined to those who
could not afford good wine; and the paintings do not mention
it at parties given by wealthy Egyptians.
They were particularly fond of music and dancing; the most
austere priest could not give an entertainment without a good
band of musicians and professional dancers, as well as plenty of
wine, rich ointments and perfumes, a profusion of flowers, and
a capital dinner. Tumblers, jugglers, and various artistes
skilled in feats of agility, were engaged for the occasion; and
the guests themselves played at games of chance, at mora, so
common now in Italy, odd and even, draughts, and other
favourite pastimes. These were all of very old date, at least as
early as the fourth dynasty, more tban 4000 years ago.* In mora
each player threw out the fingers of one hand while he endea-
voured to guess the united sum of both: the game was in later
times common in Eorne, and is now played by every idler in an
Italian street.
Draughts was a favourite game of all ranks; and King
Bemeses III. is more than once represented playing at it in
the palace at Thebes. The number of men cannot exactly be
ascertained; they were of different colours on the opposite side
of the board, and were not flat pieces like our own, but about
* Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians, vol. i. p. 190.