Opium may have been a daily habit for Ancient Egyptians
Recent archaeological research has unveiled intriguing insights into the daily lives of Ancient Egyptians, suggesting that opium use may have been commonplace—potentially even a near-daily habit—across various socio-economic classes as far back as 3,000 years ago. This revelation, detailed in a study published in the *Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology*, stems from an examination of a rare alabaster vase, which is one of fewer than ten intact examples discovered globally. The vessel, dating back approximately 2,500 years and found in association with the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, contained dark brown residues that were chemically analyzed to confirm the presence of opiate compounds such as noscapine, thebaine, and morphine. Andrew Koh, a researcher at the Yale Peabody Museum, emphasized that the findings indicate opium was not just an incidental part of life but rather a significant aspect of daily existence in ancient Egyptian culture.
The alabaster vase, inscribed in multiple languages—including Egyptian, Akkadian, Elamite, and Persian—was linked to Xerxes I, the ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, who governed a vast region encompassing Egypt and parts of Mesopotamia. Koh’s team noted that opium residue was not exclusive to the elite; similar findings in the tombs of merchant-class families from the New Kingdom period suggest that opium consumption permeated various societal levels. Koh likened the cultural significance of these opium-laden vessels to modern associations with hookahs and shisha tobacco, proposing that these artifacts served as recognizable markers of opium use in ancient times. The study builds on historical analyses, including a 1922 investigation by chemist Alfred Lucas, who, while part of Howard Carter’s team that discovered King Tut’s tomb, noted the presence of similar aromatic residues in alabaster vessels.
Looking ahead, Koh aims to extend this research to other historic artifacts housed in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, further unraveling the complexities of opiate use in ancient Egyptian society. This study not only enhances our understanding of ancient practices but also challenges previous perceptions of opium’s role, suggesting it was a fixture in the everyday lives of both commoners and royalty. The implications of these findings resonate through history, painting a more nuanced picture of how substances like opium were integrated into the cultural fabric of ancient civilizations.
Ancient Egyptians
may have used opium a
lot
. Based on recent examinations,
archaeologists
now say the drug may even have been a near-daily recreational habit. Opium might have even been widely used across socio-economic classes as long as 3,000 years ago. The evidence is detailed in a study recently published in the
Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology
, and offers a glimpse into the daily lives of regular Egyptians and royalty alike.
“Our findings, combined with prior research, indicate that opium use was more than accidental or sporadic in ancient Egyptian cultures and surrounding lands. [It] was, to some degree, a fixture of daily life,” Yale Peabody Museum researcher Andrew Koh
explained in a university announcement
.
Koh and his colleagues believe the historical revisions are likely required after examining a roughly 2,500-year-old alabaster vase. The relic is one of less than 10 similar, intact examples found from dig sites around the world. Crafted from calcite, the artifacts were discovered across various archaeological sites, including the famed tomb of the
Pharaoh Tutankhamun
. In this particular case, the vessel features inscriptions engraved in four languages–Egyptian, Akkadian, Elamite, and Persian. The various sentences are written to
Xerxes I
, ruler of the Achaemenid Empire from 486 to 465 BCE. As king, Xerxes I oversaw Egypt, as well as vast portions of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Eastern Arabia, Central Asia, and the Levant.
“Scholars tend to study and admire ancient vessels for their aesthetic qualities, but our program focuses on how they were used and the organic substances they contained,” said Koh, adding that such findings help reveal information about ancient daily life.
Koh first became interested in this specific vase after spotting unknown dark brown, aromatic residue inside the container. A subsequent chemical analysis confirmed the presence of noscapine, thebaine, papaverine, hydrocotarnine, and morphine–all clear opium biomarkers. In their study, the authors noted that their find is only the latest of many similar artifacts. Opium-laced vessels like these weren’t limited to royalty, either. Archaeologists previously identified opium residue in jugs belonging to a merchant class family’s tomb dating back to the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BCE).
“We now have found opiate chemical signatures that Egyptian alabaster vessels attached to elite societies in Mesopotamia, and embedded in more ordinary cultural circumstances within ancient Egypt,” said Koh. “It’s possible these vessels were easily recognizable cultural markers for opium use in ancient times, just as hookahs today are attached to shisha tobacco consumption.”
As further possible evidence, the study authors cited a nearly 100-year-old analysis from chemist Alfred Lucas. In 1922, Lucas was a member of the team led by Howard Carter that discovered
King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings
. Lucas performed a brief chemical study of similar alabaster vessels in 1933, and detailed their sticky, dark brown, organics. Although he couldn’t pinpoint the aromatic remains, Lucas concluded that most were not perfumes or similar scented products.
“We think it’s possible, if not probable, that alabaster jars found in King Tut’s tomb contained opium as part of an ancient tradition of opiate use that we are only now beginning to understand,” said Koh.
In the future, Koh hopes to perform the same analysis on the historic artifacts, all of which are now housed in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt.
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Opium may have been a daily habit for Ancient Egyptians
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