A 2,200-year-old vase, bearing the intriguing effigy of the Egyptian dwarf god Bes, has just revealed an unexpected secret. Researchers have identified traces of a hallucinogenic beverage used during ancient rites. This discovery plunges us into the heart of the beliefs and little-known practices of Greco-Roman Egypt.
Bes, often depicted as a jovial dwarf, played a key role in protecting households and promoting fertility. But he now appears to be linked to more enigmatic rituals. Thanks to advanced chemical analyses, scientists uncovered that this vase contained a complex mixture: psychotropic plants such as *Peganum harmala* and *Nymphaea caerulea*, as well as curious ingredients such as sesame, grapes, and licorice.
The purpose of this concoction was not purely medicinal. Bodily fluids, such as blood and saliva, were also found in the mixture, suggesting a ritualistic dimension where participants symbolically connected with the deity. These practices may also have sought to reenact the "myth of the solar eye," where Bes appeases the goddess Hathor with a blood-like beverage.
To confirm these hypotheses, the international team combined several advanced techniques, including ancient DNA extraction and infrared spectroscopy. These methods allowed the researchers to decode the beverage's composition and reveal its possible uses in divination rites or the protection of pregnant women.
The importance of dreams in these rituals is highlighted. In sanctuaries dedicated to Bes, Egyptians would sleep in hopes of receiving prophetic visions, often after consuming these substances. The hallucinogenic effects of the mixture are believed to have facilitated these dreamlike experiences, emphasizing Bes's spiritual role.
a) Drinking vessel in the form of Bes's head, El-Fayoum Oasis, Ptolemaic-Roman period.
b) Bes cup, Ghalioungui collection, 4.2 × 3.1 in. (10.7 × 7.9 cm).
c) Bes cup, inv. no. 14.415, Allard Pierson Museum, 4.5 × 3.7 in. (11.5 × 9.3 cm).
d) Bes cup, El-Fayoum, unknown dimensions.
The studied vase is housed at the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida. Although it is impossible to trace its exact origin, it reflects cultural practices blending medicine, religion, and "magic." Scientists emphasize that this type of analysis sheds light on a little-known aspect of Egyptian history.
This discovery opens new perspectives on the links between mythology and hallucinogenic substances in antiquity. By exploring these relics, researchers reveal a spiritual dimension where art and science converge, mirroring an era when mysticism and daily life were inseparable.
What is the myth of the solar eye?
The myth of the solar eye is an Egyptian legend in which Hathor, goddess of fertility and the sky, becomes furious and bloodthirsty. This wrath symbolizes a cosmic threat to the world's balance.
In the story, Bes, the protective dwarf god, intervenes to calm Hathor. He offers her a special beverage, colored to resemble blood. This drink, enriched with psychotropic plants, deeply soothes the goddess.
This tale illustrates the power of magic and rituals in Egyptian mythology. It also symbolizes the taming of destructive forces by benevolent deities.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND