A ceramic drinking vessel dating back approximately 2,200 years has corroborated the long-held suspicions of archaeologists: some ancient Egyptians indulged in hallucinogenic substances. This exceptional discovery marks the first instance of organic residue from psychedelic plants identified within an ancient Egyptian artifact, which was believed to have contained a fruity, fermented sedative sweetened with honey, potentially flavored with licorice, and intentionally mixed with human fluids.

The concoction, likely ingested as part of rituals honoring the god Bes—whose visage adorns the vessel’s exterior—was both alcoholic and hallucinogenic. “No previous research has documented findings as significant as ours,” asserts archaeologist Davide Tanasi from the University of South Florida.

Bes, an Egyptian deity associated with music, joy, and childbirth, was sometimes referred to as the “giver of dreams/oracles”. To date, over 380 Bes-themed vessels have been excavated from the ancient Egyptian civilization, yet the specific contents and their purposes remain enigmatic.

For many years, Egyptologists have postulated the intended use of these vessels—whether for sacred waters, milk, wine, or beer. According to Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Tampa Museum of Art, experts have debated whether these mugs served everyday functions, religious purposes, or were utilized in magical rituals.

The vessel, which harbors evidence of three plants known for their hallucinogenic properties, was donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984 and recently analyzed by a collaborative team of US and Italian scientists. Among these plants is the blue water lily (Nymphaea nouchali), a psychoactive species frequently depicted in association with Bes.

The second is Syrian rue (Peganum harmala), whose seeds possess sedative effects and can induce dream-like visions akin to those described in ancient Bes myths. The narrative of Bes serving a narcotic beverage to pacify a vengeful goddess underscores the plant’s historical significance.

The third identified plant belongs to the Cleome genus, which is also known to elicit hallucinations. The Bes vessel from the museum was discovered in a region south of modern Cairo, tentatively dating to the second century BCE. This era saw the existence of ‘Bes chambers’ in a nearby Egyptian city where enigmatic rituals were performed.

Human proteins found within the residue indicate a purposeful incorporation of human fluids, potentially breast milk, mucous fluids, or blood, into the ritual beverage. This inclusion may have aimed at personalizing the spiritual experience.

Van Oppen further elucidates that visitors to the Bes Chambers likely sought affirmation for successful pregnancies—a perilous endeavor in the ancient world. Therefore, the concoction of ingredients may have facilitated dream-inducing magical rituals to navigate the dangers of childbirth.

Researchers aspire to analyze additional Bes vessels in a similar manner to gain further insights into the frequency and significance of hallucinogenic concoctions in ancient Egypt. “This study provides scientific validation for elements of Egyptian mythology and illuminates the obscure rituals likely performed in the Bes Chambers at Saqqara, proximate to the Great Pyramids of Giza,” concludes Tanasi. The study was published in Nature.