What question did this study set out to answer?

The article aims to reevaluate the role of porridge in ancient Egyptian diets, challenging the predominant view of bread as the sole staple.

April 10, 2026

Porridge in Graeco-Roman Egypt and Beyond. A Reconsideration of Egyptian Ꜣwš/ỉwš(š)

Key Points

The article aims to reevaluate the role of porridge in ancient Egyptian diets, challenging the predominant view of bread as the sole staple.
Analyzed archaeological findings related to porridge in ancient Egypt.
Investigated textual evidence referencing Ꜣwš/ỉwš(š) to clarify its meaning and context.
Compared dietary practices across different cultures of the time.
Porridge was widely consumed alongside bread in ancient Egyptian diets.
The term Ꜣwš/ỉwš(š) indicates specific cultural significance of porridge.
This reexamination reveals a more diverse dietary pattern than previously acknowledged.

Abstract

Abstract An immense body of evidence, archaeological as well as textual, confirms that bread was the main staple in pharaonic and Graeco-Roman Egypt, but has also obscured the fact that the Egyptians, like many other peoples, additionally ate cereals in the form of porridge. The purpose of this article is to remedy this through a close examination of the Egyptian term Ꜣwš/ỉwš(š) .

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Authors

Gert Baetens

Alexa Rickert

Journals

Chronique d Egypte

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Porridge in Graeco-Roman Egypt and Beyond. A Reconsideration of Egyptian Ꜣwš/ỉwš(š)

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Abstract

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Connected Papers

Discussion

Authors

Journals

Actions

References and Citations

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