Verdoofd en vereerd: opium als medisch en ritueel middel in het Romeinse Rijk

Samenvatting

Numbed and revered: Opium as a medical and ritual substance in the Roman Empire. 

The use of opium in the Roman Empire has long attracted the attention of archaeologists, historians, and pharmacologists. Although opium, derived from Papaver somniferum, is frequently mentioned in classical texts, such as Virgil’s Aeneid and Pliny’s Natural History, the question remains to what extent archaeological finds confirm this use. This study compares archaeobotanical remains and iconographic artefacts from the Roman period with literary references to provide a more complete account of the medical and symbolic roles of opium in Roman society. It also briefly highlights the potential of integrating the fields of chemistry and archaeological science to demonstrate opium use. This integrated approach sheds new light on both the practical applications and the cultural significance of opium in antiquity.