The Real Foundation of Civilization

I often hear that marriage is the foundation of civilization. This is ridiculous. The foundation of civilization is beer.

Beer is mentioned in the epic of Gilgamesh. "Enkidu, a shaggy, unkempt, almost beastial primitive man, who ate grass and could milk wild animals, wanted to test his strength against Gilgamesh, the demigod-like sovereign. Taking no chances, Gilgamesh sent a whore to Enkidu to learn of his strengths and weaknesses. Enkidu enjoyed a week with her, during which she taught him of civilization:

"(..)Enkidu knew not, what bread was nor how one ate it. He had also not learned to drink beer. The whore opened her mouth and spoke to Enkidu: `Eat the bread now, O Enkidu, as it belongs to life. Drink also beer, as it is the custom of the land. (..) " Enkidu drank seven cups of beer and his heart soared. In this condition he washed himself and became a human being."

It was considered part of one's salary. Hammurabi's law's established a daily beer ration. "This ration was dependent on the social standing of the individual. For example, a normal worker received 2 liters, civil servants 3 liters, and administrators and high priests 5 liters per day."

Beer, not women, is why men decided to reject the nomadic life. In fact the first brewers were women. Via several sites on the history of beer.

Marriage is the foundation of the welfare state. It's not the foundation of civilization.

Theologize that!

Comments

[Caelius Spinator]

Very funny. I often discourse on the nutritional value of beer and its importance to the early urban diet (it's a fun icebreaker at parties...), but I never saw it in quite this way.

[ginny]

Excellent - my husband will enjoy discussing THIS theology. He will be familiar with the Gilgamesh story because of that one Star Trek: Next Generation episode.

[david]

Well this explains why many consider Britan to be the most civilized nation on earth ... and I, for one, agree ... as far as the beer is concerned.

david

p.s. Bar keep ... pull me another pint of London Pride please.

[David Huff]

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

-- Benjamin Franklin

[Phil Snyder]

"Blessed are Thou, O God, King of the Universe. For thou givest us the fruit of the vine to make our hearts glad."

Of course me settled down so that they could cultivate the grain that provided them beer. But women still had a hand in civilizing them - see the role of the prostitute above!

As it was in ancient Summeria, so it is today. Men start bathing and dressing and working to impress the women they are interested in.

YBIC,
Phil Snyder

[J. C. Fisher]

Beer, not women, is why men decided to reject the nomadic life.

But don't most (straight) men view The Good Life as one in the right hand, and the other in the left? ;-) (Of course, a few lesbians might say the same! I resemble this statement *g*)