CNL: Stories

reprinted from the Compost NewsLetter

Lammas 1993:

HYMN TO NINKASI
(a beer goddess of ancient Sumeria)

Borne by the flowing water [. . . ]

Tenderly cared for by Nihursag.

Ninkasi, borne by the flowing water [. . . ]

Tenderly cared for by Nihursag.

Having founded your own town on Rwax,S

She finished its great walls for you.

Ninkasi, having founded your own town on Rwax,S

She finished its great walls for you.

Your father is Enki, the lord Nidimmud,

Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.

Ninkasi, your father is Enki, the lord Nidimmud,

Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.

You are the one who handles dough (and) . . . with a big shovel,

Mixing in a pit, the b a p p i r with the sweet aromatics.

Ninkasi, you are the one who handles dough (and) . . . with a big shovel, Mixing in a pit, the b a p p i r with the sweet aromatics.

You are the one who bakes the b a p p i r in the big oven,

Puts in order the piles of hulled grain.

Ninkasi, you are the one who bakes the b a p p i r in the big oven,

Puts in order the piles of hulled grain.

You are the one who waters the earth-covered malt,

The noble dogs guard (it even) from the potentates.

Ninkasi, you are the one who waters the earth-covered malt,

The noble dogs guard (it even) from the potentates.

You are the one who soaks the malt in a jar,

The waves rise, the waves fall.

Ninkasi, you are the one who soaks the malt in a jar,

The waves rise, the waves fall.

You are the one who spreads the cooked mash on large reed mats,

Coolness overcomes . . .

Ninkasi, you are the one who spreads the cooked mash on large reed mats, Coolness overcomes . . .

You are the one who holds with both hands the great sweetwort,

Brewing (it) with honey and wine.

Ninkasi, you are the one who holds with both hands the great sweetwort,

Brewing (it) with honey and wine.

[. . . ]

[You . . . the sweetwort to the vessel].

Ninkasi, [. . . ]

[You . . . the sweetwort to the vessel].

The fermenting vat which makes a pleasant sound,

You place appropriately on (top of) a large collector vat.

Ninkasi, the fermenting vat which makes a pleasant sound,

You place appropriately on (top of) a large collector vat.

You are the one who pours out the filtered beer of the collector vat,

It is (like) the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates.

Ninkasi, you are the one who pours out the filtered beer of the collector vat,

It is (like) the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates.

[translation from the original by M. Civil provided by Anchor Brewing Co. by courtesy of dan'l on CompuServe]


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