Before Enkidu could meet Gilgamesh the king and be introduced to city life in the Epic, he lacked all graces of civilization. Thus, when Enkidu saw food placed before him "he narrowed his eyes and stared intently. Enkidu knew nothing of eating food, he had no experience of drinking strong drink". All this, drinking, eating, lovemaking and to dress up the right clothes he learnt from Shamhat, the sacred hierodule. The same pattern of equating knowledge of food and civilization is repeated in the myth The Marriage of Martu. Nomad Martu falls for the daughter of a city god, so he descends from where he lived a savage existence, not even knowing about "food rations", of breedng herds and all the niceties of city life. However, for the love of the godīs daughter, he changes his wild ways, and thus conquers a place in society, winning the respect of the elders and the hand of the godīs daughter.

As put so well by Professor Dalley in "Mari and Karana, two Old Babylonian Cities", ancient Mesopotamians knew that the pleasures of the table were an indication of civilized behavior and sophistication. Thus, let us explore here food and drink, crops, veggies. recipes and specialties!