Besides fertility, poppies have been used to symbolize sleep, night, and death. Consistent with the agrarian origin of their ritual use, poppies also became a symbol of reincarnation. Several literary and iconographic sources, in particular of the early Roman imperial age, are here interpreted as evidence that poppy derivatives were ingested during mystery rites. The reversible narcotic effects of poppy derivatives should have allowed a 'realistic' representation of death and reincarnation, as intended by the Orphic belief of the transmigration of souls.
The rules of drug taking: Wine and poppy derivatives in the ancient world. Vii. A ritual use of poppy derivatives? / Nencini, Paolo. - In: SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE. - ISSN 1082-6084. - STAMPA. - 32:10(1997), pp. 1405-1415. [10.3109/10826089709039386]
The rules of drug taking: Wine and poppy derivatives in the ancient world. Vii. A ritual use of poppy derivatives?
NENCINI, Paolo
1997
Abstract
Besides fertility, poppies have been used to symbolize sleep, night, and death. Consistent with the agrarian origin of their ritual use, poppies also became a symbol of reincarnation. Several literary and iconographic sources, in particular of the early Roman imperial age, are here interpreted as evidence that poppy derivatives were ingested during mystery rites. The reversible narcotic effects of poppy derivatives should have allowed a 'realistic' representation of death and reincarnation, as intended by the Orphic belief of the transmigration of souls.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.