Statuette of Two Women Making Beer
GEM Number
Collection
Period
Dynasty
Description
A painted wooden servant statuette found among several other models in the tomb of Niankhpepikem at the necropolis of Meir . The owner of the tomb lived during the reign of King Pepy I (Meryre) in Dynasty 6. This model shows two women with short hair and short white kilts standing in front of two large jars used for brewing beer. They are straining the beer mash into the jars. In the beer brewing process, beer mash was made by mixing pieces of cooked bread loaves into water to create a porridge-like mixture. The mash was then strained into heated jars with yeast, dates and honey to begin the fermentation process to create beer.