Kykeon

Circe and Odysseus, white-ground lekythos by the Athena Painter, ca. 490–480 BC. From Eretria National Archaeological Museum in Athens, 1133.

Kykeon (Ancient Greek: κυκεών, kykeȏn; from κυκάω, kykáō; "to stir, to mix") was an Ancient Greek drink of various descriptions. Some were made mainly of water, barley and naturally occurring substances. Others were made with wine and grated cheese.[1] It is widely believed that kykeon usually refers to a psychoactive compounded brew, as in the case of the Eleusinian Mysteries.[2] A kykeon was used at the climax of the Eleusinian Mysteries to break a sacred fast, but it is also mentioned as a favourite drink of Greek peasants.

  1. ^ Guthrie, W. K. C. (1978). A History of Greek Philosophy. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. p. 449.
  2. ^ González Wagner, Carlos (1984). Psicoactivos, misticismo y religión en el mundo antiguo. Complutense University of Madrid.