In ancient Egyptian lore, the god Bes was responsible for fertility and had a penchant for mischief. “He’s a beer drinker and a hell-raiser,” a demon who just might answer a supplicant’s prayers, Dr. van Oppen said. “There are so many contradictions embodied in Bes.”

For the first time, scientists have discovered the organic residue of psychedelic plants within an ancient Egyptian artifact, which once held a fruity, fermented sedative, sweetened with honey, tinged with possible licorice, and deliberately imbued with human fluids.

Scientists discovered a mix of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids, flavoring agents and alcohol after they scraped the inside of an ancient Egyptian mug that may have been used for fertility rituals.

An intricately crafted mug depicting an ancient Egyptian deity was donated to the Tampa Museum of Art’s collections in 1984. Now, four decades later, scientists have found evidence of psychedelic substances in the 2,

Researchers have discovered the residues of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids and alcohol inside a 2,000-year-old mug, suggesting that ancient Egyptians imbibed hallucinogenic beverages during rituals.