Czech hops have been an inspiration for artists since the middle ages

摘要

Written records of the growing of hops on the territory of the Czech lands are much older than are drawings of hops. Hops from even earlier periods have been discovered during archeological excavations. The oldest Czech herbal with a very charming depiction of hops was written by the physician Jan Cerny, also known as Johannes Niger de Praga (1456 - 1530). The title of his herbal was "Kniha lékarská, kteráz slove herbár, aneb zelinár, velmi uzitecná z mnohych knih latinskych i z skutecnych vybraná". It was printed in Nuremberg (1517), twice in Prague (1544, 1554) and in Olomouc (1554). A colored engraving (woodblock) showing a hop plant growing on a pole originates from the first edition of the herbal, which is deposited in the library of the National Museum in Prague. It is frequently used for exhibitions and prints as very valuable and visually appealing proof of hop growing in the Czech lands [Photo I].