Drugs and hallucinogenic concoctions are not an invention of modern times.
Knowledge of herbs was among the first forms of practical information humans acquired during the hunter-gatherer era. Scientists have now found evidence that ancient Egyptians crushed and boiled specific plants to prepare psychoactive mixtures for magic and rituals.
Priests and medical specialists — yes, they had their own form of doctors — used psychotropic plants to create cocktails for religious ceremonies and magical practices.
An international team of researchers has uncovered physical evidence suggesting that ancient Egyptians prepared potent hallucinogenic concoctions — something long suspected but never conclusively proven until now.
The discovery stems from the analysis of a 2,000-year-old “Bes” mug, donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984. Bes, a deity symbolizing protection, fertility, healing, and magical purification, was commonly depicted on these unique vessels.
As detailed in a study published in the magazine Scientific Reports, the scientists found traces of psychoactive substances within the mug’s interior, which is a groundbreaking discovery.
For the first time, they identified the chemical signatures of the liquid once contained in the Bes mug, including psychotropic plants known for their medicinal properties.
The research revealed that the mug (pictured above) held a “cocktail of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids, and alcohol.” Among the ingredients were wild rue and water lily, plants revered by the ancient Egyptians for their hallucinogenic and healing effects.
The implications of this discovery align with long-standing theories about the use of Bes mugs in religious or magical rituals. For years, experts debated whether these mugs were used in daily life, religious ceremonies, or magical practices. The research supports the idea that these concoctions may have been integral to dream-inducing rituals, possibly tied to fertility and childbirth.
The authors, Italian and American researches, speculate that ancient Egyptians likely sought Bes’s protection during hardships, especially during dangerous periods like pregnancy.
It is also possible that such concoctions were consumed in drug orgies meant to communicate with spirits and gods. If so, these practices were probably confined to priests and the elite rather than ordinary people, who likely lacked both access to rare ingredients and the specialized knowledge needed to prepare them.
This connection between drug consumption and religion reinforces the broader idea that such practices were not primarily recreational, but rather a deliberate means of boosting communication with the divine and the afterlife, bridging the earthly realm with the spiritual realms.