Ancient Egyptians used psychotropic plants to make cocktails for religious ceremonies and magical practices.

An international team of researchers has uncovered physical evidence suggesting that ancient Egyptians had been involved in potent hallucinogenic concoctions – something that was suspected but not proved 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, often adorned these unique vessels.

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As detailed in a study published in the magazine Scientific Reports, the scientists found traces of psychoactive substances within the mug’s interior. “This is a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time, we identified the chemical signatures of the liquid once contained in the Bes mug, including psychotropic plants known for their medicinal properties,” study lead Davide Tanasi, an anthropology professor at USF, was quoted as saying in a press release. 

The study 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 speculate that ancient Egyptians likely sought Bes’s protection during hardships, especially during dangerous periods like pregnancy.

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It is also possible that those cocktails were used in drug orgies to communicate with spirits and gods – a theory valid for aristocracy and priests rather than commoners who most likely lacked knowledge about medicinal plants to cook the fluids.

The research was a team effort of scientists from the University of South Florida (U.S.), Tampa Museum of Art in Florida, University of Milan, University of Trieste (Italy), as well as independent experts.

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