The Pig: From Feast to Forbidden—A History of the Ancient Near East

This article explores the long history of pigs in the ancient Near East, tracing their journey from domesticated livestock to a religiously forbidden food. Archaeological evidence reveals pigs were a crucial food source in the early Bronze Age, but their numbers dwindled in the later Bronze Age, not due to religious taboos, but a complex interplay of factors including climate change, deforestation, and the rise of pastoralism. The Hebrew Bible's prohibition against pork likely stems from the early Israelites' nomadic lifestyle rather than health or climatic concerns. Later Greek and Roman rule saw a resurgence in pork consumption, only to decline again with the advent of Islam, though it never entirely disappeared. The story reveals how dietary habits shaped cultural identities, and how religion and politics influenced food choices.