Four thousand years ago, in the temples of Sumer, singers lifted their voices to a goddess who filled their cups with joy. The Hymn to Ninkasi — ancient Mesopotamia's golden song to the goddess of beer — is one of the world's oldest hymns and its earliest surviving brewmaster's account, folding blessing into every step of the brewer's craft. This modern-English edition sets the hymn beside the Sumerian songs that shared its world: praises of the great gods, sacred marriage songs of Inanna and Dumuzid, laments for beloved cities, and songs of the hoe and the harvest. Rendered in clear, present-day language, the single poem and its companions keep the warmth, the longing, and the plain speech of the original tablets. Notes and a glossary open the door without crowding the music of the words. Whether you come for the recipe, the reverence, or simply for beautiful ancient poetry, this little book offers a place at the feast. Part of The World Scriptures Library.