Researchers led by Davide Tanasi from the University of South Florida have uncovered traces of hallucinogens in a distinctive type of ancient Egyptian vessel known as a Bes cup, suggesting these items were used in magical rituals. This discovery marks the first identification of physical evidence of all ingredients in the beverage contained within these unique cups. The findings, which confirm a preprint from last year, were published on November 13 in Scientific Reports, shedding light on an iconic enigma of ancient Egypt.
Tanasi stated, "No research has found what we discovered in this study. For the first time, we identified all the chemical signatures of the components of the liquid mixture contained in the Bes cup from the Tampa Museum of Art, including the plants used by the Egyptians, all with psychotropic and medicinal properties."
Bes cups were ceramic vessels present in Egypt from the 16th century BCE to the 5th century CE. The cup studied by Tanasi dates back to the Ptolemaic period (323 to 30 BCE). These cups were decorated with representations of Bes, an Egyptian god often depicted as a dwarf with a large head, prominent eyes, a tail, a feather crown, and a protruding tongue. Researchers noted that the Egyptians revered Bes for his associations with fertility, protection, medical healing, and magical purification.
Bes cups have been discovered in various archaeological contexts, complicating experts' efforts to determine their exact purpose. Some speculate these cups were used in so-called "Bes chambers," rooms where rituals likely took place in Saqqara, a famous ancient funerary complex. However, few studies have analyzed organic residues present in these vessels.
Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Tampa Museum of Art, explained, "For a long time, Egyptologists have speculated about the use of these Bes-headed cups and the type of beverage they contained, such as holy water, milk, wine, or beer. It was unclear whether these cups were used in everyday life, for religious purposes, or in magical rituals."
To delve deeper, the team applied various research techniques, including advanced chemical and DNA analyses, to a sample extracted from the interior of a Bes cup at the Tampa Museum of Art. Results indicated that the final contents of the cup included a mixture of psychedelic drugs, alcohol, and bodily fluids—such as breast milk, mucus, and blood—alongside the more traditional ingredients mentioned earlier.
The team suggests that the Bes cup may have been used in "some type of recreational ritual" related to Egyptian mythology, possibly linked to fertility. They added that future steps should include analyzing other Bes cups to determine if the ingredients were consistent.
Van Oppen remarked, "This research teaches us about magical rituals in the Greco-Roman period of Egypt. Egyptologists believe that people visited the so-called Bes Chambers in Saqqara when they wanted to confirm a successful pregnancy, as pregnancies in the ancient world were fraught with dangers. Therefore, this combination of ingredients may have been used in a magical ritual that induced dream visions in the context of this perilous period of pregnancy."
If this interpretation is correct, it remains to be seen whether the worshippers consuming this potent brew received their reward—if not from Bes himself, at least in the form of a good trip.