A Time Machine to Ancient Mesopotamia
Host of the YouTube channel Tasting History with Max Miller
“If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, I suggest a trip to ancient Mesopotamia via Arim Hawsho’s Table of Gods. This is so much more than a cookbook of recipes inspired by the ancient world; it’s a time traveler’s guide to a civilization thousands of years in the past. With Arim as your guide, you’ll not only learn how to cook like an ancient Mesopotamian, but get a glimpse of what it was like to live as one. Beautifully researched, entertaining, and truly a work of art, Table of Gods makes the food and history of ancient Mesopotamia feel wonderfully alive.”
Owner of Restaurang Nationalmuseum and Långbro Värdshus, and gastronomic advisor to the Nobel banquet at Stockholm City Hall
These 4,000-year-old recipes remain fresh, flavorful, and visually stunning.
Professor of Assyriology at Yale University and author of Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire
"Arim Hawsho has managed to combine well researched historical information with his own personal take on ancient Assyria, its culture, and its culinary traditions."
Culinary historian and James Beard Award-winning author of The Cooking Gene
"Arim Hawsho has captured the magic of the continued existence of Assyrians as a people, and how this existence courses through his veins."
Professor Emeritus of Assyriology at the University of Helsinki
"It seems to me that in praising the deeds of the Sargonid kings, Arim Hawsho has exceeded even the Assyrian scribes."
Near Eastern Archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania Museum and host of Artifactually Speaking on YouTube
"By researching cuneiform texts, archaeological excavations, and traditional cooking in the region today, Arim Hawsho has produced an amazing book of Mesopotamian recipes. He not only brings ancient meals back to life for today's kitchens, but he also takes the reader on a journey through ancient cities to experience the cultures that invented them."
Professor of History of the Ancient Near East and Assyriology at the University of Padua
"Table of Gods is both interesting and inspirational. The carefully researched recipes and the captivating photographs succeed in recreating the atmosphere of ancient Assyrian cuisine while also showing a strong link of continuity with modern Assyrian and, in general, Near Eastern cuisine. It's a great way to resurrect Assyrian culture and make it known to the general public."
Like a Cookbook.
Unlike Any Cookbook.
What Early Readers Say
“I have been in Iraq multiple times, but sadly I never made it to Nineveh, until now.”
“This beautiful chapter made me laugh, cry, and feel intensely proud to be Assyrian.”
“This book transported me entirely into the lives of our ancestors, immersing me in their traditions, culture, and daily practices. The vivid storytelling and detailed reconstruction of ancient Mesopotamian cuisine allowed me to experience their world in a way I never thought possible.”
“I enjoyed the adventure of walking the streets of Nineveh and experiencing some of the atmosphere. I look forward to reading these chapters while the smells of the past transport my kitchen back 5,000 years.”
“I Love how you add so much history into your writing. You present it in a light casual way, but I know that countless hours were put into the research. I think your readers, if they are not already obsessed with ancient history, will find a love for the ancient Near East.”
“So much more than a recipe book.”
“I found the deeply personal nature of the narrative in the introduction compelling. A few moments I actually laughed out loud-- to the surprise of my girlfriend who was working in the other room and was startled by my normally quiet self making the laugh I did.”
“I'm very impressed, it is quite an enjoyable read.”
“You offered me information that was missing in my own cultivated knowledge of Assyrian culture, including language and history. I appreciate the information that has been thoughtfully gathered.”
“Fascinating topic. Not something that I was interested in, but now I am. Can't wait to get a copy.”
“The immersive descriptions make history come alive, and your meticulous research adds depth and credibility. Whether someone is a food lover, history enthusiast, or interested in cultural identity, this chapter offers an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. It’s a celebration of food as a bridge to the past and a reminder of the power of heritage in shaping who we are.”
“Wow! I was expecting a good experience. But Wow, just Wow.”
“History becomes alive, I am transported to those cities and markets, i hear the sounds, smell the smells.... You have a rare gift.”
“Your text is amazing and far beyond my expectations. It’s truly unique how you combine history, geography, food, and personal stories in such a structured, scientifically solid, and tested way, while still keeping it entertaining!”
“There was enough history and intrigue with the recipes to make me feel like I was reawakening the gods if I were to make any of the recipes.”
“Reading the chapter (I would have liked more!) I was impressed with the degree of preparation, testing, research - including physical research, consultation and the degree of feedback you obtained from specialists.”
“Not even kidding, I excitedly squealed a couple pages into reading it. Your book is how to reach people who would otherwise turn their noses up at reading about history.”
What Others Have Cooked
Host Unforgettable Dinners
Take your friends and family on a culinary journey they'll never forget. With the help of chefs, historians, photographers, and food stylists, we've recreated seventy recipes from ancient Mesopotamia over a period of seven years.
Every Photo Tells a Story
Over five years, we shot 104 photos with the help of two food stylists, two chefs, a costume designer, and one of Sweden's best photographers. Each photo in Table of Gods is staged to transport you to ancient Mesopotamia.
Dinner Ends.
Game Night Begins.
Play the world's oldest board game on the back cover of Table of Gods.
Buy the game piece set together with the book and save 30%.
Clay Infused Cover
By adding clay from the Euphrates River to the cover paper of Table of Gods, we've turned the book into an artifact.
When you hold Table of Gods, you're holding a piece of ancient Mesopotamia.
The World's Oldest Recipe
The debossed cuneiform signs on the cover are the same signs that appear in the first recipe, "Meat Broth," on the tablet containing the world's oldest recipes.
The 3D effect is created using a custom brass die, specialty cover paper, and a reinforced cover board. All to make the book resemble a clay tablet.
UV-LED Printing
To achieve precise color accuracy on our fine art paper, we print using UV-LED technology. Unlike conventional inks that soak into the paper as they dry, UV-LED inks cure instantly on the paper's surface.
This results in sharper detail, deeper contrast, and more vibrant color.
On the image: me in the printing factory, approving a printed sheet of eight pages.
The Perfect Gift
Whether you're gifting Table of Gods to yourself or a loved one, the book comes packaged in a drawstring pouch—like it was delivered from ancient Mesopotamia.
