Introduction

Anthropologists recognise that all societies use intoxicants in aspects of their cultural lives (Lewin 1964; Rudgley 1993). Modern analysis of plants that early peoples believed to have intoxicating or healing properties has, in many cases, demonstrated the presence of pharmacologically active chemicals such as alkaloids and flavonoids that account for these effects.

In his work on drugs in ancient and primitive societies Emboden (1979), improving on previous work by Lewin (1964), classified intoxicants into the different groups summarised in Figure 37. Clearly, some well-known intoxicants do not fit easily into one category, opium, for example, being both narcotising and hallucinogenic, depending upon the circumstances of its use.

Although the use of animal- and mineral-derived drugs is well described in Egyptian medical practice (Nunn 1996), these do not tend to act as intoxicants, and thus, for this study, the subject materials of interest tend to be derived from plants.

Little is known about the use of intoxicants in ancient Egypt beyond the widespread consumption of beer, as part of the staple diet, and wine, by the elite. The cultural use of alcohol by the Egyptians is well documented and will not be considered here. This chapter will focus on a small number of intoxicants that may or may not have contributed to Egyptian society as a medicine, recreational drug or in sacred rituals.