Through the Mists of Time

Hallucinogenic Rituals of Ancient Egypt

The Mysteries of God Bes – Hallucinogenic Rituals of Ancient Egypt

In November 2024, the scientific community was astounded by a discovery that fundamentally transformed our understanding of ancient Egyptian religious practices. An international team of researchers led by Professor Davide Tanasi from the University of South Florida achieved a historic breakthrough by uncovering the first physical evidence of hallucinogenic substances used in ancient Egyptian rituals. This groundbreaking discovery emerged from years of studying an enigmatic ceramic vessel shaped like the head of the god Bes, housed in the Tampa Museum of Art.

The vessel, crafted in the second century BCE during the Ptolemaic period, had long remained one of archaeology’s enduring mysteries. Bes-shaped vessels were produced over a long period in Egypt, but only a limited number have survived — and all of them have been found within different archaeological contexts, adding to their mystery. Despite such artifacts being known to scholarship for over a century, their precise purpose remained a subject of intense debate among Egyptologists.

Professor Tanasi, recognizing the unique opportunity presented by this artifact, decided to employ the most advanced scientific methods available to analyze the residual substances preserved within the vessel. Using innovative techniques, including metabolomics and synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transformed Infrared microSpectroscopy, the team identified a complex mixture of ingredients. The results exceeded all expectations of the researchers.

Their analysis detected four substance categories: an alcoholic base, flavoring agents, human bodily fluids, and medicinal and psychotropic ingredients. The detection of fermentation yeasts indicated that the concoction had a base of beer or wine, which was enhanced with flavors from honey and possibly royal jelly, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes. Ancient Egyptians commonly used grapes to make beverages resemble blood.

The most sensational discovery, however, was the identification of psychoactive plants within the ancient beverage. Among the plants included were Egyptian blue water lily and Syrian rue, which contain hallucinogenic, medicinal, intoxicating and sedative properties that can alter perception and enhance visionary experiences.

The central component of the mixture proved to be Peganum harmala, widely known as Syrian rue or harmal. The seeds of this plant produce large quantities of the alkaloids harmine and harmaline, which induce dream-like visions considered to be of the oneirophrenic type, and in lower concentrations the alkaloid vasicine, which possesses uterotonic properties capable, at certain dosages, of aiding childbirth or inducing abortion.

The historical connection between this plant and ancient Egypt proved to be far deeper than previously suspected. The earliest evidence of human use of P. harmala in Egypt can be traced back to the pre-Dynastic period through the discovery of seeds dated to 3700-3500 BCE. Moreover, various ancient and modern names for harmal have roots consisting of the letters bs- and bss-, including baššāšā (ancient Syria), baššūšā (modern Syria), bešaš (ancient Aramaic), basous (Coptic), bêsasa (modern Egypt), and bêsa (Greek Medical Papyri). The names bêsa and bêsasa have been traced to the name of Bes and interpreted as the “plant of Bes.”

The second key psychoactive component was the blue water lily (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea), improperly known as the “blue lotus.” At least twelve figurines of Bes emerging from a blue water lily flower are known, and representations of this flower can be found on different types of Bes-vessels. Scientific studies have shown that several species of water lilies are considered to have “narcotic and sedative” properties and have been traditionally used as medicines and for their intoxicating effects.

The third botanical component, identified through genetic analysis, proved to be plants of the Cleomaceae family. In Egypt, ten native species of Cleome are recognized, two of which are present in this list: C. gynandra and C. chrysantha. Particularly interesting is Cleome gynandra, which is widely used in Africa for various medicinal purposes. Its fresh roots, when taken orally, serve as a promoter of labor, while its leaves, also when taken orally, serve as an abortifacient and oxytocic.

The most shocking discovery, however, was the detection of human biological fluids within the ancient beverage. The bodily fluids were possibly a mix of blood, breast milk and mucus, which may have been vaginal, nasal or saliva, researchers said, and they believe these were added deliberately based on their concentrations. Proteomic analyses indicated a high presence of human proteins within the residue, including several other proteins such as Mucin-5B, Lactotransferrin, Prolactin-inducible protein, Serum albumin, Hemoglobin subunit beta, and Gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase, suggesting a deliberate addition of human fluids to the drink prepared for ritual purposes.

The purpose of these complex ritual mixtures becomes clear when considered within their mythological context. In that story, the dwarf god Bes tricks the sky goddess Hathor. Hathor was in a bloodthirsty mood, but Bes gave Hathor an alcoholic beverage, spiked with a plant-based drug disguised as blood, that put her into a deep sleep of forgetfulness. It is possible that the hallucinogenic drink was used by people attempting to predict the future. A ritual linked to the cult of Bes during the Greco-Roman periods involved the practice of incubation for oracular purposes, in which consultants slept in the Bes-Chambers at Saqqara to obtain prophetic dreams.

Of particular significance is the connection of these rituals to childbirth and fertility. The Bes Chambers at Saqqara, near the Great Pyramids of Giza, are believed to have been sites where women sought divine assistance during pregnancies, a period fraught with risks in the ancient world. Egyptologists believe that people visited the so-called Bes Chambers at Saqqara when they wished to confirm a successful pregnancy because pregnancies in the ancient world were fraught with dangers. So, this combination of ingredients may have been used in a dream-vision inducing magic ritual within the context of this dangerous period of childbirth.

The scientific rigor of the study deserves special attention. The team applied a multidisciplinary approach, combining cutting-edge proteomics, metabolomics, genetic techniques, and synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transformed Infrared microSpectroscopy to characterize organic residues of the vessel’s content. Ancient DNA genetic analysis confirmed the presence of plants from three families: sequence similarity searches allowed assignment of these three clusters to the families Nitrariaceae, Cleomaceae, and Nymphaeaceae respectively.

The research also revealed the presence of other ingredients indicating the complexity of the ancient recipe. The identification of 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, a triterpenoid abundantly found in the roots of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), suggests the potential presence of this plant. Additionally, the presence of pinolenic acid indicates sources rich in this fatty acid, such as pine nuts or pine nut oil.

The importance of this discovery extends far beyond mere scientific curiosity. This research teaches us about magic rituals in the Greco-Roman period in Egypt. The identified substances would likely have induced dream-like visions, heightened meditative states and possibly euphoria.

Professor Tanasi emphasizes the revolutionary nature of this discovery: “There’s no research out there that has ever found what we found in this study. Religion is one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of ancient civilizations. With this study, we’ve found scientific proof that the Egyptian myths have some kind of truth and it helps us shed light on the poorly understood rituals that were likely carried out in the Bes Chambers in Saqqara, near the Great Pyramids at Giza.”

This discovery has profound implications for our understanding of ancient Egyptian religion and medicine. It demonstrates that the use of psychoactive substances was not a random experiment but a carefully developed religious practice deeply integrated into Egyptian mythology and ritual life. The beverage was not simply used for healing — it possessed powerful ritual significance, allowing Egyptians to interact with the gods and mystical forces of the universe.

The methodological innovation of the research also deserves recognition. The new tactic was successful and revealed the vase had a cocktail of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids and alcohol — a combination that Tanasi believes was used in a magical ritual reenacting an Egyptian myth, likely for fertility.

This discovery also underscores the sophistication of ancient Egyptian pharmacology and their understanding of psychoactive substances. Written records, iconography and archaeological evidence from seeds and charred plants has shown that Egyptians were familiar with the plants and the side effects from consuming them. We were surprised by the complex recipe of the concoction and shocked by the discovery (of) the human fluids that added a new religious/magical angle.

The prospects for future research appear promising. Studying chemical samples from other Bes vases in the future could reveal whether the mugs were used during singular events, or if these were part of a widespread practice. Going forward, the team hopes to carry out similar analyses on additional examples of Bes mugs at other museums to determine whether all the vessels contained the same recipe.

This revolutionary discovery not only sheds light on previously unknown aspects of ancient Egyptian religion but also demonstrates the power of modern scientific methods in archaeology. It shows that ancient civilizations possessed a far more sophisticated understanding of chemistry, pharmacology, and psychology than we could have imagined. The hallucinogenic rituals of Ancient Egypt open a new chapter in the study of humanity’s quest for spiritual experience and connection with the divine, demonstrating that certain aspects of human nature remain unchanged across millennia.

Sources:

  1. Tanasi, D., van Oppen de Ruiter, B.F., Florian, F. et al. “Multianalytical investigation reveals psychotropic substances in a ptolemaic Egyptian vase.” Scientific Reports 14, 27891 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78721-8
  2. ScienceDaily: “Egyptians drank hallucinogenic cocktails in ancient rituals, study confirms” (November 2024). University of South Florida. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241115124633.htm
  3. CNN: “Ancient Egyptians drank a heady mix of alcohol, bodily fluids and hallucinogens during rituals, scientists say” (November 26, 2024). https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/26/science/egyptian-bes-mug-hallucinogens/index.html
  4. Live Science: “Evidence of 2,200-year-old hallucinogenic ritual found in Egyptian vase depicting dwarf god” (November 17, 2024). https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/evidence-of-2-200-year-old-hallucinogenic-ritual-found-in-egyptian-vase-depicting-dwarf-god
  5. Archaeology News Online Magazine: “2,200-year-old Egyptian hallucinogenic rituals confirmed by vase depicting dwarf god” (November 17, 2024). https://archaeologymag.com/2024/11/2200-year-old-egyptian-hallucinogenic-rituals/
  6. University of South Florida: “USF professor confirms Egyptians drank hallucinogenic cocktails in ancient rituals” (2024). https://www.usf.edu/news/2024/usf-professor-confirms-egyptians-drank-hallucinogenic-cocktails-in-ancient-rituals.aspx
  7. Ancient Origins: “Hallucinogenic Substances Detected in 2,200-Year-Old Egyptian ‘Bes’ Vase” (June 5, 2023). https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/egyptian-bes-vase-0018581
  8. Daily Galaxy: “Ancient Egypt’s Blood Rituals: ‘Human Blood’ Used in Sacred Ceremonies, New Discovery Reveals” (December 3, 2024). https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/12/ancient-egypts-blood-rituals-human-blood-used-in-sacred-ceremonies/
  9. Live Science: “10 stunning ancient Egyptian discoveries made in 2024, from hidden temples to hallucinogenic rituals” (December 29, 2024). https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/10-stunning-ancient-egyptian-discoveries-from-hidden-temples-to-hallucinogenic-rituals