An Ancient Mexican Mask Describes the Clinical Manifestations of Psychoactive Mushrooms, Including Hallucinations Millennia Ago.

A pre-Columbian ceramic mask from the Olmec civilization (1500-400 BCE) depicts a hybrid creature that is half jaguar and half human, with features suggesting enhanced sensory abilities. The jaguar half has a blind eye and a small ear without a hole, while the human half has an anatomically intact eye and a horn-shaped ear with a large hole, symbolizing greater hearing. The human side also has a skull and nose resembling a mushroom cap and stem. These visual and auditory enhancements, interpreted as hallucinations, indicate that the Olmecs documented the effects of psychoactive mushrooms containing psilocybin long before medical texts described them.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Archaeologists, historians, and physicians have frequently examined historical pieces including images or sculptures (visual arts) and found evidence that allow them to make interpretations under certain assumptions. Iconography examines archaeological evidence and provides clues and symbols for more information about the past. \nThis manuscript aims to highlight "iconography" as another source for studying the history of health literacy. We hope to persuade professional readers of health and medicine to begin researching and reporting the rich iconographic figures, particularly in Iran, attributed to health and medicine across the country. \nMethods: We have evaluated a pre-Columbian ceramic mask from the Olmec civilization (1500-400 BCE, south-central Mexico) discovered in 1955 by the famous archaeologist Matthew Williams Stirling and is kept at the Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza, Italy. \nResults: This mask consists of two halves (earth jaguar and divine human). It looks like the skull that is transforming from an anxious jaguar earthly creature into a perfect and holy figure of the human face. First, this hybrid deity mask manifests auditory and visual hallucinations from a medical and psychological perspective. The jaguar's ear is small with no hole. However, its human ear is shaped like a horn with a large hole which could symbolize a relatively more remarkable hearing ability. The jaguar's eye is just an empty and presumably blind hole. Yet, the celestial eye is anatomically intact, suggesting the ability to see beyond the eyeless earth creature. \nAdditionally, the human (holy) half of the figurine has a skull and nose that resembles the cap and stem of a mushroom. Enhanced visual and auditory abilities, today classified as hallucinations, provide evidence of psychoactive chemicals such as the effects of magic mushrooms containig psilocybin. \nConclusion: The pre-Columbian Olmec civilization ichnographically documented magic mushrooms' medical and psychological effects long before any medical texts described their manifestation.