Researchers from the United States and Italy have conducted a chemical analysis of residues found on the walls of a small ceramic jug, which was used by the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt to drink a rather unusual cocktail over 2,200 years ago.
The artifact is housed in the collection of the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida. It was discovered in the area of the city of Faiyum, located south of Cairo. This region was renowned for its fertility and the diversity of its flora and fauna.
The vessel features an image of the deity Bes (or Besa), who was believed to be the guardian of the home and family, as well as a protector against evil spirits.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
A team of scientists from the University of South Florida (USF, USA), the University of Trieste, and the University of Milan (Italy) found traces of a fermented alcoholic liquid made from fruits on the ceramic jug, along with psychoactive compounds from plants that induce “dream-like visions.”
Experts explained that for “greater effect,” the ancient Egyptians added biological fluids of human origin to the mixture. The drink also contained honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, sweeteners, and grapes. This means the finished beverage likely had a blood-like color. It was probably consumed in moderation, with a single serving not exceeding 90 ml.
David Tanasi, a professor and the lead author of the study, believes this concoction was consumed by sick individuals seeking to experience “prophetic dreams.”
“We are 100 percent certain that psychoactive substances were used for so-called incubation rituals associated with the cult of Bes. Incubation rituals are religious practices in which people sleep in a sacred place to receive a dream from a deity that can bring healing,” Professor Tanasi stated.
What Else Is Known About This Cocktail?
To conduct chemical and DNA analyses, the team took samples from the inner walls of the jug, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The results revealed that one of the plants used as an ingredient in the cocktail is Peganum harmala, commonly known as Syrian rue. It grows in the Mediterranean basin. According to the scientists, the seeds of this plant contain high levels of the alkaloids harmine and harmaline, which induce the same “dream-like visions.” During such visions, individuals typically struggle to distinguish reality from dreams. Additionally, this plant contains the alkaloid vasicine in lower concentrations, which enhances uterine contractions. Therefore, this substance can aid in childbirth or cause miscarriage.
Traces of the blue lotus flower (Nymphaea caerulea), an aquatic plant containing the psychoactive alkaloid aporphine, were also found in the ancient drink. The analysis also indicated the presence of honey or royal jelly in the cocktail.
Wheat grains, sesame seeds, and yeast produced during fermentation, as well as pinolenic acid found in pine nuts, were also part of the drink’s composition.
However, the team was most shocked by the “large amount of human proteins in the residue.” Researchers reported that the ancient Egyptians added “breast milk, mucous secretions (oral or vaginal), and blood” to the cocktail.
Interestingly, according to legend, Bes quelled the anger of the powerful ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor by offering her an alcoholic drink infused with a plant narcotic.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.