The archaeological site of Tel Yavneh, a few hundred meters away from the Philistine incineration pit where evidence of ritual use of different kinds of intoxicants and hallucinogens was found. (screen capture: YouTube)
Posted on 05/30/2015 1:00:17 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The now-lackluster central Israeli town of Yavneh was apparently once the center of a thriving drug scene, according to Israeli researchers.
Cutting-edge technology has allowed archaeologists to find traces of hallucinogenic materials, used over 3,000 years ago by the biblical Philistine people for spiritual rituals, Haaretz reported Thursday.
Mind-altering potions and plants were commonplace in many ancient cultures, which believed that using the substances intensified the mystical experience of worshipers. In some cases, in which adherents had to endure physically painful ceremonies, the substances also served to numb the pain.
In an upcoming symposium in Jerusalem's Hebrew University, aptly titled "Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll," archaeologists will discuss the analysis of findings from an incineration pit in Yavneh that was discovered a decade ago.
The findings constitute the oldest known ritual use of the intoxicating Hyoscyamus plant, which has an effect on the body similar to that of alcohol.
Thousands of artifacts used for worship were found inside the Yavneh pit, including clay and stone bowls, some of which served to hold the intoxicating plants, as well as hallucinogenic substances such as nutmeg. According to archaeologist Raz Kletter, who dug up the ancient site in 2002, the pit was part of an Iron Age temple, Haaretz reported...
The research team were able identify molecules from plants belonging to the Hyoscyamus family, which were preserved in olive oil in their original form.
The hallucinogens, though, were more difficult to trace, since the material had deteriorated too greatly. "We presume that they included nutmeg, which is known as a hallucinogen, and used today to produce ecstasy," Mandar said.
According to Mandar, the field of "sensory archaeology" is in its very early stages, and substantial knowledge is still lacking.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
The archaeological site of Tel Yavneh, a few hundred meters away from the Philistine incineration pit where evidence of ritual use of different kinds of intoxicants and hallucinogens was found. (screen capture: YouTube)
Israeli archaeologists find cache of Philistine vesselsThe vessels are thought to have been used religious rituals and date back to the 9th and 10th century BC... He said the vessels are known as cultic stands and were likely buried in the pit because they were regarded as sacred. Some have intricate inscriptions and red, black and white geometric patterns. Some of the designs have not been seen before. It's believed they show either symbols of houses of the gods, or were used to burn incense or hold idols.
Tuesday 12th November 2002
Anti-social SamsonEric Altschuler from the University of California at San Diego and his colleagues say that Samson showed signs of no fewer than six of the seven behaviours associated with antisocial personality disorder. Samson routinely got into fights, and once killed 1000 Philistines single-handedly and then gloated over it, showing no remorse. He also showed a reckless disregard for his own safety when he told Delilah, a woman who'd tried to kill him three times before, the secret of his strength. The researchers note that Samson also burned Philistine fields, which showed both his impulsivity and his inability to conform to social norms. He was deceitful, not telling his parents, for instance, that he got honey from the carcass of a lion. And like many people with ASPD, Samson behaved badly as a child: setting things on fire, torturing animals, stealing, and bullying other children. A whole chapter is devoted to Samson's mother being warned by angels not to drink while she's pregnant.
by Alison Motluk
“lamp oil, hyoscyamus, and concubinage - no free rides” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
;’D
There is nothing new under the sun.
Question: The Philistines are said to come from Crete. However in the Table of Nations, they are said to be descendants of Ham. They seem to have adopted some of the Greek Culteral aspects, but is it a stretch to say they were probably darker complected Hamites that were driven out of Crete by the Mycaean Greeks?
I'm off to the store!
I think the Philistines were one branch of the Sea People who included/were best known after settling down as the Carthaginians. The Sea People were particularly active a few centuries before the date of this find.
Hey, nice GIF!
(there's a later edition of the work, although I'm not sure it's still in print, the publisher was acquired)Giving Goliath His Due:The name Goliath, like Achish, is not Semitic, but rather Anatolian (McCarter 1980, 291, Mitchell 1967, 415; Wainwright 1959, 79). Not all agree though; the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (2:524) proposes that Goliath may have been a remnant of one of the aboriginal groups of giants of Palestine who now were in the employ of the Philistines. [1. Naveh (1985, 9, 13 n. 14) states that Ikausu, the name of the king of Ekron in the seventh century b.c., is a non-Semitic name that can be associated with that of the Achish of Gath in David's time. The name in the seventh century has a shin ending that is non-West Semitic.]
New Archaeological Light on the Philistines
by Neal Bierling
foreword by Paul L. Maier
online version
Whoops, sorry, missed that reply, should have cc’d:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3295125/posts?page=15#15
I thought Nutmeg was Dennis Quaid’s ex-wife.
Thanks :)
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