A recently analyzed 2,200-year-old ceramic drinking vessel has provided evidence that some ancient Egyptians consumed hallucinogenic substances. This study marks the first discovery of organic residue from psychedelic plants within an Egyptian artifact.
The vessel, which once contained a fermented drink sweetened with honey and possibly flavored with licorice, bears the image of the god Bes, associated with music, merriment, and childbirth. Archaeologist Davide Tanasi from the University of South Florida states, “There’s no research out there that has ever found what we found in this study.”
Over 380 vessels featuring Bes have been unearthed, yet their original contents and purposes remained unclear. Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Tampa Museum of Art, notes, “Experts did not know if these mugs were used in daily life, for religious purposes, or in magic rituals.”
The recently studied vessel, donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984, contains traces of three psychoactive plants. The blue water lily (Nymphaea nouchali), often depicted with Bes, is known for its psychoactive properties. Syrian rue (Peganum harmala), another psychoactive plant, can induce dream-like visions when consumed in small amounts. The third plant belongs to the Cleome genus, which is also associated with hallucinations.
Discovered in a region south of Cairo and tentatively dated to the second century BCE, this vessel may provide insights into the rituals conducted in 'Bes chambers' of nearby Egyptian cities. The presence of human proteins in the residue suggests that human fluids, such as breast milk and blood, were intentionally added to the drink.
According to Van Oppen, these rituals may have been linked to childbirth, as ancient pregnancies were often perilous. “This combination of ingredients may have been used in a dream-vision inducing magic ritual within the context of this dangerous period of childbirth,” he explains.
Researchers express hope that further analysis of Bes vessels will enhance understanding of ancient Egyptian practices. “With this study, we've found scientific proof that the Egyptian myths have some kind of truth,” Tanasi remarks, emphasizing the importance of these findings in illuminating poorly understood rituals associated with the Bes deity.