Investigating the psychedelic hypothesis of kykeon, the sacred elixir of the Eleusinian Mysteries
Our findings demonstrate that toxic ergopeptides can be chemically transformed into psychoactive
substances through an ancient process involving reaction in lye, a technique that could have been
employed by the ceremonial priestesses of Eleusis. These results support the hypothesis that the
entheogenic properties of kykeon could be attributed to the use of ergot, as suggested by R. Gordon
Wasson, Albert Hofmann and Carl A. P. Ruck almost half a century ago. It should be noted that the
purpose of this work was not to establish a novel analytical method for the quantitation of LSA and
iso-LSA, nor to optimize the hydrolysis reaction conditions through response surface methodology,
nor to re-evaluate the pharmacological properties of EAs, LSA and iso-LSA, which are already well
documented. Rather, the focus of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility of this transformation
in the specific historical-technological context under investigation, which has been successfully
achieved. Looking forward, it is anticipated that the application of advanced organic residue
analysis to existing and future archaeological discoveries from the site of Eleusis may provide the
necessary material evidence to further substantiate and enrich the “psychedelic Eleusis”
hypothesis.
