Back

Selected ressource details

-
Back

Psychoactive Flies - Herakles’ ritual drink and an indication of doping in the ancient Olympian Games

Abstract

In the tradition transmitted by Claudius Aelian and Pliny, flies are the mythic metaphor of fly agaric, specifically the fact that flies do not dare to enter some places, which must be understood as a reference to the consumption of the fly-repellent mushroom. The use of the drink made by fly agaric in the Temple of Herakles, probably not only in Rome, but in many other places, means the sacramental use of an entheogenic potion. However, this sacramental use was extended in Olympia to the reaching of an improved physical capacity that allowed the athletes to get some way implemented their strength, abilities or speed, or, in other words, a potion that helped to win a particular contest, just what we call nowadays doping, though endowed with the same religious meaning as the Christian Eucharist.