2200-year-old liquor cup also contains milk, vaginal mucus detection alcohol, and psychotropic ingredients
Nov 19, 2024
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Researchers from the University of South Florida collaborated with researchers from the University of Trieste and the University of Milan in Italy to chemically analyze the inside of a ceramic beverage cup that is about 2200 years old, an ancient Egyptian relic.
The volume of liquid that can be contained inside was found to be about 90ml.
The head of one of the Egyptian gods, Beth, was depicted on the outside of this palm-sized cup.
Beth God is a god who protects women and children during childbirth, and is known to have been worshipped as a guardian of all good and an enemy of all bad.
Chemical and DNA analysis of internal traces revealed Peganum hamala, better known as Syrian rue, native to the Mediterranean Basin, along with fermented alcohol components extracted from fruits. The seeds of this plant are said to have hallucinations.
Low concentrations of alkaloids bacicin were also detected, which serves as a 'cystic tonic' at certain doses.
In addition, aquatic plants containing psychotropic alkaloids aphorphine, 'blue lotus', 'honey or royal jelly', ' licorice plant components', and ' wheat and sesame' were also detected.
What is surprising is that human body fluids came together.
Ingredients such as breast milk, mucus (oral or vaginal), and blood were detected.
In response, the researchers estimated that "human bodily fluids must have been intentionally added to beverages prepared for some religious ritual purpose.' The findings were published in the famous scientific journal 『Scientific Reports』.
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