Menu of the Gods. Mesopotamian Supernatural Powers and their Nourishment, with Reference to Selected Literary Sources

  • Stefan Nowicki
Keywords: ancient Mesopotamia, ancient diet, ancient food, Mesopotamian literature, Mesopotamian mythology

Abstract

The aim of this article is to identify and interpret selected literary sources which address the components of the divine diet and its development, as well as the eating habits of Mesopotamian goddesses and gods. From the preserved texts it is clear that nourishment was an equally crucial issue for the well-being of both the Mesopotamian gods and every man and women. Moreover, apart from some exceptions, the divine diet was similar or even identical to that of humans. It differed in the quality of the ingredients or the actual dishes and, sometimes, also in relation to the quantity of food that was prepared. Because of these similarities, evidence of the development of the divine cuisine, which can be found within literary tradition, can potentially be interpreted as reflectingthesocialhistoryofthehumandiet.

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Author Biography

Stefan Nowicki

Stefan Nowicki, Ph.D., Reader in the Institute of Classical, Mediterranean and Oriental Studies at the University of Wrocław, Poland. Field of research – Assyrian royal inscriptions, Mesopotamian religion and literature, Ancient Near Eastern magical rituals.

Published
2014-09-10
How to Cite
Nowicki, S. (2014). Menu of the Gods. Mesopotamian Supernatural Powers and their Nourishment, with Reference to Selected Literary Sources . Archiv orientální, 82(2), 211-224. https://doi.org/10.47979/aror.j.82.2.211-224
Section
Research Article