Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Some academics are of the generalist opinion that ancient Egyptian beer was only
consumed by the lower classes because of its low social status. This is based on the
generalization that individuals only consume alcoholic beverages matching the status of
their social class. Therefore the lower classes consumed beer while the upper classes
consumed an alcoholic beverage of higher status, i.e. wine. However, other academics are
of the universalist opinion that Egyptian beer was universally consumed by all Egyptian
social classes irrespective of the status of beer.
This study aims to test the validity of these opposing academic opinions and also strives
to understand how statements of status in Egyptian society were devised, and what they
were conveying. This was achieved by determining the status of Egyptian beer and wine
and then comparing them to the respective status of beer and wine drinkers in the New
Kingdom period (c. 1550-1069) according to the factors of production, consumption,
health, economic exchange & distribution, and religion. Use is made of an
anthropological approach which allows the researcher to limit social bias and understand
ancient Egyptian society on its own terms.
Results of this study indicate that Egyptian beer had a much lower status than Egyptian
wine and all social classes consumed beer while only the upper classes consumed wine.
The generalist opinion, therefore, is falsified and the universalist opinion validated. The
results also indicate that the upper classes justified their beer consumption by producing,
consuming and exchanging an elite beer of higher status in a manner reminiscent of wine
so that it compared more favourably with the status of their social classes.
This study, therefore, not only settles an old academic dispute but also provides new
insight into Egyptian beer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sommige akademici huldig die algemene siening dat antieke Egyptiese bier uitsluitlik
deur die laer klasse gebruik is, omdat bier ‘n laer status geniet het. Dit is gegrond op die
veralgemening dat individue slegs alkoholiese drank gebruik het wat ooreenstem met hul
eie sosiale klas. Die laer klasse het dus bier gedrink terwyl die hoër klasse alkoholiese
drank van ‘n hoër status, naamlik wyn, gedrink het. Ander akademici is egter van mening
dat Egiptiese bier deur alle Egiptiese sosiale klasse gebruik is, ongeag die status van bier.
Hierdie studie poog om die geldigheid van hierdie teenstrydige akademiese menings te
toets en poog ook om te verstaan hoe stellings oor status in die Egiptiese samelewing
bedink is en wat hulle wou oordra. Dit is bereik deur die status van Egiptiese bier en wyn
te bepaal en dit dan te vergelyk met die besondere status van bier en wyndrinkers in die
Nuwe Koningkryk tydperk (c. 1550-1069) volgens die faktore van produksie, verbruik,
gesondheid, ekonomiese uitruiling & verspreiding en godsdiens. ‘n Antropologiese
benadering is gevolg omdat dit die navorser in staat stel om sosiale partydigheid te
beperk en sodoende die Egiptiese samelewing in eie reg te kan verstaan.
Resultate van hierdie studie dui aan dat alhoewel Egiptiese bier ‘n veel laer status as
Egiptiese wyn geniet het, het alle sosiale klasse nietemin bier gedrink, terwyl net die hoër
klasse wyn gedrink het. Die algemene mening is gefalsifiseer, terwyl die universele
mening gestaaf word. Die resultate dui ook aan dat die hoër sosiale klasse hul
bierverbruik geregverdig het deur ‘n elite bier van hoër status te produseer, uit te ruil en
te gebruik op ‘n wyse soortgelyk aan diè van hul wynverbruik, sodat dit gunstig vergelyk
met die status van hul sosiale klasse.
Hierdie studie los dus nie net ‘n ou akademiese meningsverskil op nie, maar gee ook ‘n
nuwe insig in Egiptiese bier en die gebruik daarvan deur die hoër klasse.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97042 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Klop, Damian Jerome O'Reilly |
| Contributors | Cornelius, Izak, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xii, 422 pages : illustrations (some colour) |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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