The Tomb of Maya and Meryt: Preliminary Report on the Saqqara Excavations, 1990-1

Schneider, H.; Martin, Geoffrey T.; Aston, B. G.; Dijk, J. van; Perizonius, Rutger; Strouhal, Eugen

doi:10.2307/3821950

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Such vases are a category of ceramic vessels decorated with the e gy or the head of Bes, that circulated in Egypt from the New Kingdom (16 th -11 th century BCE) to the Hellenistic or Ptolemaic (330 -30 BCE) and Roman Imperial periods , when the production peaked 7,8 . Though most of the known examples, belonging to museums and private collections, are decontextualized and of unrecorded provenience 6 , occasionally Bes-vases have been discovered in a variety of different archaeological contexts in Egypt and in the Near East, from funerary 9,10,11 to residential 7 and sacred contexts 4 and over a long period of time. It is signi cant, however, that no such vessels are known to have been excavated in the only cult place certainly attributed to Bes, namely the Chambers at the Anubieion in Saqqara, where other Bes-related artefacts have been unearthed 12 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ritual revealed: psychotropic substances in a Ptolemaic Egyptian vase

Tanasi

Ruiter²,

Florian

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This study presents a comprehensive multimodal analytical study of an Egyptian ritual Bes-vase, of the 2nd century BCE employing cutting-edge proteomics, metabolomics, genetics techniques, and synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transformed Infrared microSpectroscopy (SR µ-FTIR) to characterize organic residues of its content. We successfully identified the presence of various nutraceutical, psychotropic, medicinal, and biological substances, shedding light on the diverse components of a liquid concoction used for ritual practices in Ptolemaic Egypt. Using LC-MS/MS with a new methodological approach, we identified key proteins and metabolites, enabling the identification of botanical sources, confirmed by genetic sequences. Our analyses revealed traces of Peganum harmala, Nimphaea nouchali var. caerulea, and a plant of the Cleome genus, all of which are traditionally proven to have psychotropic and medicinal properties. Additionally, the identification of human fluids suggests their direct involvement in these rituals. Furthermore, metabolomics and SR μ-FTIR analyses also revealed the presence of fermented fruit-based liquid and other ingredients such as honey or royal jelly. The identification of specific chemical compounds, such as alkaloids and flavonoids, provides insight into the psychoactive and therapeutic uses of these in ancient ritual practices. This multidisciplinary study highlights the complexity of ancient cultures and their interactions with psychoactive, medicinal, and nutraceutical substances. These findings contribute to our understanding of ancient belief systems, cultural practices, and the utilization of natural resources, ultimately enhancing our knowledge of past societies and their connection to the natural world.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%