A groundbreaking discovery has revealed that ancient Egyptians used hallucinogenic drinks in magical rituals about 2,000 years ago.
A professor from the University of South Florida, Davide Tanasi, has uncovered the first physical evidence of these psychoactive substances in an ancient Egyptian mug.
This discovery supports long-standing myths and written records about their rituals.
The research focused on a rare artifact known as a Bes mug, named after the Egyptian god Bes. This deity was believed to offer protection, fertility, healing, and magical purification.
The Tampa Museum of Art owns one such mug, donated in 1984, which features the face of Bes on its surface.
Until now, experts could only guess at what these mugs were used for, speculating they might have held sacred water, wine, beer, or milk.
Tanasi and his team took a tiny sample from the inside of the mug and used advanced chemical and DNA analysis to identify the ingredients of its last contents. For the first time, they were able to reveal exactly what was in it.
The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
What was in the mug?
The analysis showed the mug contained a mix of psychedelic drugs, alcohol, and even bodily fluids.
These substances were likely part of a magical ritual tied to fertility. The concoction also included honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes.
These ingredients may have been chosen to give the drink a blood-like appearance, adding to its symbolic power.
The use of these mugs has been a mystery for decades because they appeared in various settings throughout ancient Egypt.
However, this new study sheds light on their role, suggesting they were used in rituals to reenact myths and seek divine blessings, particularly for childbirth—a dangerous time in the ancient world.
Bes was a beloved figure in ancient Egyptian culture, known for offering protection to families and pregnant women. Many Egyptologists believe that people visited Bes Chambers in places like Saqqara, near the Great Pyramids of Giza, to perform rituals related to fertility and childbirth. The combination of ingredients in the mug’s cocktail suggests it might have been used to induce dream-like visions, helping participants connect with the divine during these rituals.
Why is this important?
This discovery gives us a rare glimpse into the spiritual and magical practices of ancient Egyptians.
“Religion is one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of ancient civilizations,” said Tanasi. By providing scientific proof of the use of hallucinogenic drinks in these rituals, the study helps explain how myths were connected to real-life practices.
The study was part of the Mediterranean Diet Archaeology project, with researchers from the USF Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment collaborating with experts in Italy.
Through their efforts, they uncovered a hidden layer of ancient history, revealing how Egyptians blended science, magic, and religion to navigate life’s uncertainties.
This research not only enriches our understanding of ancient rituals but also highlights the ingenuity and complexity of early human cultures.
