Ancient Egyptians drank a heady mix of alcohol, bodily fluids and hallucinogens during rituals, scientists say

Ancient Egyptian Hallucinogenic Rituals Uncovered #

Researchers have discovered residues of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids, and alcohol inside a 2,000-year-old mug, suggesting ancient Egyptians used hallucinogenic beverages during rituals. The findings stem from a study on a surviving Bes mug displayed at the Tampa Museum of Art. These mugs, featuring the head of Bes, an ancient Egyptian deity, were produced over a long period but are rare today.

Scientists conducted chemical and DNA analyses, revealing for the first time physical evidence of plants with psychotropic and medicinal properties within an Egyptian mug. This discovery validates written records and myths related to ancient Egyptian rituals. The mug residues comprised an alcoholic base, flavoring agents, human bodily fluids, and medicinal and psychotropic ingredients. The alcoholic component was likely beer or wine, enhanced with flavors like honey and grapes. Bodily fluids, possibly blood, breast milk, and mucus, were added deliberately based on their concentrations.

The plants found included Egyptian blue water lily and Syrian rue, containing hallucinogenic, medicinal, intoxicating, and sedative properties. Additionally, species of the Cleome plant, known to induce labor, were present. These findings illuminate the complex nature of the rituals and substances involved. “Religion is one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of ancient civilizations,” one researcher remarked. “We’ve found scientific proof that the Egyptian myths have some kind of truth.”

Written records and iconography depicted the Egyptians’ familiarity with these plants and their effects. The researchers were particularly surprised by the complexity of the concoction and the presence of human fluids, suggesting a new religious or magical angle. Studying chemical samples from other Bes vases might reveal whether these mugs played a role in singular events or a widespread practice. Additional analyses could determine whether all Bes vessels contained similar recipes.

Inebriation held significant ritual importance in some ancient Egyptian festivals, particularly those linked to the Nile’s flooding. The floodwaters were associated with the goddess Hathor, to whom alcoholic offerings were made during the floods. Festivals of Drunkenness included imagery of banqueters drinking excessively, aiming to become swiftly inebriated and sometimes vomiting from overindulgence. Bes and similar deities often appeared as attendants of Hathor in iconography, suggesting Bes mugs might have played roles in Hathoric rituals.

Determining the ancient Egyptian names for the plants, beyond the already recognized blue water lily, remains vital for identifying recipes from Greco-Roman temples. This research provides new insights into the magic rituals of the Greco-Roman period in Egypt, particularly surrounding the Bes Chambers in Saqqara near the Great Pyramids at Giza.