| Found on a discussion list: This topic is a
bit late for this audience, but I have a
question that's relevant for you. In an article,
``A
Sphero-Conical Vessel as *FuqqA`a*, or a Gourd
for `Beer',''
Muqarnas, v9, 1992, pp72--92, A Ghouchani and
Chahryar Adle
identify the puzzling "hand grenades"
of medieval Islamic
sites as containers for effervescent beer. Their
thickness
and high firing were necessary to contain the
pressure.
The authors have found literary sources referring
to such
vessels, e.g.
More pleasant than the lips of the beloved for
the one
who will break fast
Are the lips of that heavy gourd (kuza) filled
with fuqA`.
To be ready for your table from daytime to sunset
The fuqA` sat concealed in crushed ice.
or, likening the vessels to breasts,
O maiden's breast that I sucked early in the
morning
While still suffering from the effects of last
night's wine.
The "nipple" of the gourd was evidently
sealed with skin, which was
pierced to open the vessel.Classics
Log 9309d - Message Number 200
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