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2,000-Year-Old Bes-Vase Reveals Ancient Egyptians Used Psychedelic Concoctions in Rituals

Nov 26, 2024, 03:02 PM

A recent scientific study has discovered that ancient Egyptians consumed a psychedelic concoction during rituals, as revealed by the analysis of a 2,000-year-old Bes-vase. The artifact, a Bes-vase from the 2nd century BCE, contained traces of psychotropic substances, including Peganum harmala, Nimphaea nouchali var. caerulea, and a plant from the Cleome genus. These substances, combined with alcohol and bodily fluids, were part of ritualistic practices. The Bes-vase, associated with the god Bes, known in Greek graffiti as the 'giver of oracles' or 'giver of dreams,' highlights the integration of hallucinogenic substances in ancient Egyptian spiritual ceremonies. The study was reported by Smithsonian.