Study Reveals Psychedelic Ritual Cocktail In Ancient Egyptian Mug

A 2,000-year-old Egyptian mug, known as a Bes mug, was used to consume a potent concoction of psychedelic substances, alcohol and human bodily fluids, according to new research. The study, published in Scientific Reports, utilized advanced chemical and DNA analysis to uncover the complex composition of the mug’s last contents.

The Mug And Its Mythical Connection

The artifact, housed at the Tampa Museum of Art, features the head of Bes, an Egyptian deity linked to protection, fertility and joy. During the Ptolemaic period (330–30 BCE), Bes also took on mystical and oracular roles, often associated with transformative rituals.

Researchers analyzed residues scraped from the inner walls of the mug and identified psychoactive substances such as Peganum harmala (Syrian rue) and Nymphaea caerulea ...

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