Intoxication in the Ancient Greek and Roman World
January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.5771/9781666920154 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Psychoactive plants and drugs were commonplace in ancient Greek and Roman societies, used in religion, medicine, magic, artistic inspiration, and recreation. Alan Sumler surveys primary sources to reveal how substances like hellebore, mandrake, opium poppy, cannabis, and wine were employed, and examines ancient attitudes toward intoxication. Interpreted through modern Classics, philosophy, and ethnobotany, the work shows that these societies held nuanced views on the appropriateness of intoxication depending on context.
Study at a glance
| Design | historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Population | ancient Greek and Roman primary sources |
| Key finding | Psychotropic plants and drugs were widely used in ancient Greek and Roman life, and societal attitudes toward intoxication varied by context. |
Abstract
Intoxication in the Ancient Greek and Roman World considers the psychotropic plants used in the ancient world and ancient attitudes towards intoxication. Alan Sumler surveys primary Greek and Roman sources for noteworthy mentions of ancient intoxicants like hellebore, mandrake, deadly nightshade, thorn apple, opium poppy, cannabis, wine, and other substances and reveals how psychoactive drugs were used in ancient Greek and Roman religion, medicine, magic, artistic inspiration, and recreation. Interpreted through the lens of modern-day scholarship from Classics, philosophy, and ethnobotany, the primary sources illuminate how commonplace psychotropic plants and drugs were in the ancient Greek and Roman world and—given different contexts for psychotropic drug usage—what attitudes these societies held about the appropriateness of intoxication.