Instead of pure
archaeological information, I’m sharing this cute anecdote about the use of
“performance-enhancing” drugs in antiquity.
We have to thank the
latest excavations at Magnesia on the Meander located
about 15 miles
east of Miletus for this information. The diggings focussing on the stadium revealed a relief
telling us that the most important part of the stadium limited to 60 persons
was reserved for a group called the Mandragoreitoi.
These were people who produced mandrake,
a deliriant and hallucinating drug held in high esteem and apparently
encouraged to be used by the competing athletes. Wikipedia defines mandrake as follows: Mandrake
is the common name for members of the plant
genus Mandragora, particularly the species Mandragora
officinarum, belonging to the nightshades family (Solanaceae). Because
mandrake contains deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine, apoatropine,
hyoscyamine and the roots sometimes contain
bifurcations causing them to resemble human
figures, their roots have long been used in magic
rituals, today also in contemporary pagan
traditions such as Wicca and Odinism.
While clearing the old
stadium with a capacity of 40,000 people from tons and tons of soil, it was
discovered that part of the seats were reserved for the citizens of Ephesos,
while some political groups, bakers, gardeners, and bird sellers had combined
tickets. Other reliefs found on the podiums tell us about the awards that were
granted to competitors in any of the three categories, gymnastics, riding and
music. Successful athletes were interestingly enough granted a bundle of
clothes, probably a distinctive outfit.
More reliefs await future excavation and the archaeologists hope to find some 125 of them, meaning that more information about the stadium and the competitions will become available.
More reliefs await future excavation and the archaeologists hope to find some 125 of them, meaning that more information about the stadium and the competitions will become available.
[Pictures from Hurriyet Daily News]
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