Tampa, United States - November 15, 2024 A groundbreaking discovery by University of South Florida professor Davide Tanasi has confirmed that ancient Egyptians consumed hallucinogenic concoctions during fertility rituals. Tanasi's team conducted chemical analyses on a rare Egyptian Bes mug, revealing traces of psychedelic drugs, body fluids, and alcohol. The study, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, provides the first-ever physical evidence of these substances, validating age-old myths and historical texts. The Bes mug, decorated with the visage of the deity Bes, was donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984. Bes was revered for protection, fertility, and healing, but until now, the true purpose of these mugs remained a mystery. According to Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the museum, experts long debated whether these vessels were used in daily life, religious practices, or magic rituals. By scraping a sample from the inner walls of the mug and employing a combination of chemical and DNA analyses, Tanasi and his international collaborators uncovered the presence of psychotropic plants, flavored with honey, sesame, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes. The concoction likely resembled blood and was used in dream-inducing ceremonies at Bes Chambers in Saqqara. “This research proves there’s truth in the myths and sheds light on complex religious practices,” Tanasi noted. The Bes mug is currently displayed at the Tampa Museum of Art as part of the exhibition “Prelude: An Introduction to the Permanent Collection.”