Lore
Lore 236: Spirited
Sep 11, 2023
Unearthing an ancient brewery challenges beliefs about early beer brewing. Exploring the origins of toasting and drinking superstitions. The history and mythology of absinthe and its association with artistic inspiration. Excessive consumption of absinthe leads to fear-inducing folklore. Exploring the connections between spirits, alcohol, and the human soul.
27:11
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Quick takeaways
- Humans developed the ability to metabolize alcohol much earlier than previously thought, potentially before the emergence of modern humans, and the desire to brew alcohol may have driven the invention of agriculture.
- Toasting has symbolic significance in different cultures, with various beliefs and practices rooted in folklore, such as using water instead of wine to toast the dead in ancient Greece or the custom of making eye contact while toasting in Spain and France.
Deep dives
The Origin of Beer Brewing: The Earliest Brewery Discovered
Archaeologists excavating an ancient burial site in Israel found traces of wheat and barley-based alcohol that date back 13,000 years, disproving the previous belief that beer brewing began 5,000 years ago. This discovery suggests that humans developed the ability to metabolize alcohol much earlier than previously thought, potentially even before the emergence of modern humans. Some anthropologists believe that the desire to brew alcohol may have even driven the invention of agriculture.
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