Topic
Ancient texts and archaeological evidence for ritual use of psychoactive plants and drinks.
Ritual architecture, psychoactive plants, sound, and authority in the Early Horizon Andes
A concise archaeological site entry on Chavin de Huantar as a ceremonial center where architecture, controlled movement, sound, San Pedro imagery, and direct evidence for vilca and Nicotiana snuff formed part of institutionalized ritual practice.
RV 8.48 and 9.113 on soma, immortality, and light
Two selected Rigvedic hymns to Soma: RV 8.48, the famous hymn of drinking soma and becoming immortal, and RV 9.113, a Soma Pavamana hymn asking to be placed in deathless worlds of light, delight, and fulfilled desire.
The Homeric Hymn to Demeter (7th-6th century BCE) is the founding myth of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Disguised as an old woman, Demeter drinks kykeon (barley meal, water, and mint) and later teaches the Eleusinians the 'awful mysteries.'
Clement of Alexandria's chapter from his Exhortation to the Greeks (c. 195 CE), exposing Greek mystery religions including the Eleusinian rites. He quotes the complete verbal formula recited over the kykeon and recounts the myth of Demeter and Baubo.
A high-Andean ritual bundle with direct chemical evidence for multiple psychoactive plants
A rock shelter in southwestern Bolivia where archaeologists found direct chemical evidence for ancient use of coca, harmine-bearing plants, DMT-bearing plants, and possibly psilocin.