Scholars have for the first time detected chemical markers of the ingredients in a liquid found in a Bes mug. Utilizing a novel technique, researchers identified a mixture infused with honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes — all typical elements used to give the drink a blood-like appearance.
A professor from the University of South Florida has uncovered the first concrete evidence of hallucinogenic substances in an Egyptian mug, lending credence to historical texts and age-old legends regarding ancient Egyptian ceremonies and practices. Davide Tanasi conducted thorough chemical analyses on one of the few surviving Egyptian Bes mugs.
These mugs, including one that was donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984, feature the head of Bes, an ancient Egyptian deity revered for providing protection, fertility, medicinal cures, and magical purification. The research, published on Wednesday in Nature’s Scientific Reports, explores an ancient Egyptian enigma: the purpose of Bes mugs approximately 2,000 years ago.
“No prior research has documented our findings,” stated Tanasi. “This is the first instance where we’ve been able to pinpoint all the chemical signatures of the liquids once held in the Bes mug from the Tampa Museum of Art, identifying the various plants employed by the Egyptians, each known for their psychotropic and medicinal effects.”
The presence of Bes mugs in diverse contexts over numerous generations has made it extremely challenging to hypothesize about their contents or function in ancient Egyptian society.
“For a long time, Egyptologists have pondered the purposes these mugs with Bes’s image might serve, whether for sacred water, milk, wine, or beer,” remarked Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Tampa Museum of Art. “Experts remained uncertain if these mugs had everyday applications, religious significance, or were intended for magical rituals.”
Various theories surrounding the mugs and vases were based on myths, yet only a few were ever investigated to unearth their true ingredients, as the truth was extracted from the layers one by one.
Tanasi, who carried out this research as part of the Mediterranean Diet Archaeology project led by the USF Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment, worked alongside several USF scientists and colleagues from the University of Trieste and the University of Milan to conduct chemical and DNA examinations. Using a crushed sample obtained from scraping the inner surfaces of the vase, the team applied several analytical methods together for the first time to reveal the contents of the mug.
The new approach proved effective, uncovering that the vase contained a mixture of hallucinogenic substances, bodily fluids, and alcohol — a combination Tanasi believes was employed in a magical ritual that echoed Egyptian mythology, likely centering on fertility. The mixture consisted of honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes, all of which were often used to create a blood-like appearance in the beverage.
“This research illuminates the magic rituals prevalent in Greco-Roman Egypt,” stated Van Oppen. “Egyptologists theorize that individuals visited the Bes Chambers at Saqqara hoping to confirm successful pregnancies, as childbirth in ancient times was perilous. Thus, this blend of ingredients may have been part of a dream-inducing magical ritual to navigate this risky period of childbirth.”
“Religion remains one of the most intriguing yet complex facets of ancient civilizations,” added Tanasi. “Through this study, we’ve established scientific evidence that lends some authenticity to Egyptian myths and aids in understanding the obscure rituals likely conducted in the Bes Chambers in Saqqara, close to the Great Pyramids at Giza.”
The Bes mug is currently on display at the Tampa Museum of Art as part of the exhibition, “Prelude: An Introduction to the Permanent Collection.” A 3D model of the Bes mug is also available, created by the USF Institute for Digital Exploration.
