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Picking Your Poison in Ancient Egypt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s already common knowledge that beer was first brewed in ancient Egypt. There is evidence that ancient Egyptian society as a whole was willing to experiment with mind-altering substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the ancient Egyptians<\/a> didn\u2019t stop at just beer. Archaeological discoveries, mythological tales, and even human remains show evidence that drugs like opium, cannabis, and the esoteric blue lotus were consumed by ancient Egyptians.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is most interesting about these findings is that in several cases, modern pharmacological science backs up what the ancient Egyptians were saying about their drugs. For instance, the Ebers Papyrus<\/a> describes the use of cannabis to treat menstrual cramps and hemorrhoids \u2014 something which even present-day medical researchers are looking into. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA second example would be the blue lotus, Nymphaea caerulea<\/em>. It was considered an aphrodisiac as well as a relaxant. The extract of this plant in modern times has been used in erectile dysfunction drugs as well as sleep-inducing teas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGetting High With the Gods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEven the ancient Egyptian deities were not above indulging in drugs from time to time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The venerable Thoth, considered the patron god of science and knowledge, was credited with discovering opium<\/a>. In a legend that shows the ancients understood its pain-relieving properties, the goddess Isis is said to have cured the Sun god Ra\u2019s headache with an offering of opium<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis divine association may be one of the reasons why the use of opium was popular among priests and the elite of ancient Egyptian society<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCannabis is another drug that has been used in rituals in many cultures, including ancient Egypt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plant\u2019s distinctive form can be spotted in imagery<\/a> associated with Seshat, the deity of wisdom, and Bastet, the feline goddess of war. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSince the Pharaohs considered themselves gods made flesh, they were not to be left out. Cannabis pollen was found on the mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II<\/a> who died circa 1213 BC. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe adoption of cannabis as a recreational drug in ancient Egyptian society can be inferred from all the historical evidence, as well as the fact that the plant itself originated in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Legend of the Lotus Eaters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOne psychotropic substance that is infamous for its association with ancient Egypt is the blue lotus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even other cultures recognized the powers of this plant. In Homer\u2019s Odyssey<\/em><\/a>, the titular hero has his ship blown off course by a storm, bringing him to an island close to the North African coast. There, his scouts encounter the natives who spend their days in a stupor after chewing on the mind-numbing plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs his crew begins to succumb to temptation and drift into a lotus-induced daze, it falls to Odysseus to drag them back to the ship and away from the island out of fear that they will become addicted and abandon their quest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the ancient Greeks were aware of Egypt\u2019s consumption of blue lotus at the time. The North African setting for the story implies it occurred near Egypt, a land where the blue lotus had great significance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plant is even mentioned in the text of the Book of the Dead<\/em><\/a> where it is said to have magical properties. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe way the lotus sank under the water at night only to rise and bloom again during the day fascinated ancient Egyptians. They associated this trait with the never-ending cycle of life and death, thus giving the plant reverence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cocaine Mummies: Fact or Fiction?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is strong, irrefutable evidence that opium, cannabis, and Nymphaea<\/em> were all used by ancient Egyptians for their mind-altering capabilities. However, some researchers believe that their predilections were even more decadent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is most interesting about these findings is that in several cases, modern pharmacological science backs up what the ancient Egyptians were saying about their drugs. For instance, the Ebers Papyrus<\/a> describes the use of cannabis to treat menstrual cramps and hemorrhoids \u2014 something which even present-day medical researchers are looking into. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A second example would be the blue lotus, Nymphaea caerulea<\/em>. It was considered an aphrodisiac as well as a relaxant. The extract of this plant in modern times has been used in erectile dysfunction drugs as well as sleep-inducing teas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even the ancient Egyptian deities were not above indulging in drugs from time to time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The venerable Thoth, considered the patron god of science and knowledge, was credited with discovering opium<\/a>. In a legend that shows the ancients understood its pain-relieving properties, the goddess Isis is said to have cured the Sun god Ra\u2019s headache with an offering of opium<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This divine association may be one of the reasons why the use of opium was popular among priests and the elite of ancient Egyptian society<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cannabis is another drug that has been used in rituals in many cultures, including ancient Egypt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The plant\u2019s distinctive form can be spotted in imagery<\/a> associated with Seshat, the deity of wisdom, and Bastet, the feline goddess of war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the Pharaohs considered themselves gods made flesh, they were not to be left out. Cannabis pollen was found on the mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II<\/a> who died circa 1213 BC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The adoption of cannabis as a recreational drug in ancient Egyptian society can be inferred from all the historical evidence, as well as the fact that the plant itself originated in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One psychotropic substance that is infamous for its association with ancient Egypt is the blue lotus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even other cultures recognized the powers of this plant. In Homer\u2019s Odyssey<\/em><\/a>, the titular hero has his ship blown off course by a storm, bringing him to an island close to the North African coast. There, his scouts encounter the natives who spend their days in a stupor after chewing on the mind-numbing plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As his crew begins to succumb to temptation and drift into a lotus-induced daze, it falls to Odysseus to drag them back to the ship and away from the island out of fear that they will become addicted and abandon their quest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even the ancient Greeks were aware of Egypt\u2019s consumption of blue lotus at the time. The North African setting for the story implies it occurred near Egypt, a land where the blue lotus had great significance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The plant is even mentioned in the text of the Book of the Dead<\/em><\/a> where it is said to have magical properties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The way the lotus sank under the water at night only to rise and bloom again during the day fascinated ancient Egyptians. They associated this trait with the never-ending cycle of life and death, thus giving the plant reverence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is strong, irrefutable evidence that opium, cannabis, and Nymphaea<\/em> were all used by ancient Egyptians for their mind-altering capabilities. However, some researchers believe that their predilections were even more decadent. <\/p>\n\n\n\nGetting High With the Gods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Legend of the Lotus Eaters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cocaine Mummies: Fact or Fiction?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n