While it has long been speculated that Ancient Egyptians used hallucinogenic substances, there was no definitive evidence to support this claim.

Several cups depicting Bes, the god of music, entertainment, and childbirth, have been unearthed over time, but their exact purpose remained unclear.

Branko van Oppen from the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida explains, "Egyptologists have long speculated about the purpose of these cups depicting Bes’ head and the type of beverage they were used for—be it sacred water, milk, wine, or beer." However, it was uncertain whether these cups were used in daily life, for religious purposes, or during magical rituals.

Van Oppen and his colleagues analyzed the contents of a cup donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984. Initially discovered near Cairo, the ceramic cup dates back to the 2nd century BCE. Examination of the cup, which depicts Bes, revealed traces of hallucinogenic plants, alcohol, and human bodily fluids.

In their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports on November 13, the researchers presented the first evidence of hallucinogenic substance consumption by Ancient Egyptians.

Davide Tanasi, an archaeologist at the University of South Florida, remarked, "No other study has found what we discovered here."

The team identified three hallucinogenic plants in the small cup. One of them was Nymphaea nouchali, closely associated with Bes. Another plant, Peganum harmala (Syrian rue), is known to induce dream-like experiences in small doses, echoing the mythical narratives surrounding Bes. Lastly, the researchers found a hallucinogenic plant from the Cleome genus, which was traditionally used to induce labor but could cause miscarriage in high doses.

Additionally, the researchers detected traces suggesting the cup contained beer or wine. The mixture appears to have been sweetened with honey and possibly royal jelly, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes.

The bodily fluids identified included blood, breast milk, and mucus, which the team suggests were deliberately added. The mucus might have been vaginal, nasal, or salivary in origin.

Van Oppen notes, "Egyptologists believe individuals seeking assurance for a successful pregnancy visited the Bes Chambers in Saqqara, as pregnancy in the ancient world was fraught with danger. Thus, these components may have been used in a magical ritual within the context of a perilous childbirth period to trigger dream-like visions."

Tanasi added that written records and other archaeological data indicate that the Ancient Egyptians were familiar with various plants and their side effects:

"We were astonished by the complex composition of the mixture and shocked by the discovery of human bodily fluids, which add a new dimension to the religious/magical context. The substances identified likely induced dream-like visions, heightened meditative states, and euphoria."

The study does not confirm that all Bes cups were used for this purpose, but examining other artifacts may help answer this question.