ABSTRACT

Cultures using mind-altering psychedelic mushrooms in literate periods have been identified in the ancient Near East. key to their recognition in preliterate periods. One may assume that psychedelic substances such as mushrooms were elevated to the status of gods, and their secret identity embedded in the iconography of material items in a variety of media. I trace some of these images from late Holocene cultures until at least the Early Bronze Age, and suggest analogies from known contemporary cultures where the mycological cult was practiced. I note the presence of such a cult in the rock art of the Negev and Sinai deserts in Israel. Most of this art is thought to date within the last 5000 years. I also suggest a symbiotic relationship between man and ibex with the growth and collection of mushrooms linking the two.

摘要

在古代近东，人们已经发现在有文字的时期使用改变心智的迷幻蘑菇的文化。在文字出现之前的时期，它们是得到承认的关键。人们可能会认为蘑菇等迷幻物质被提升到神的地位，它们的秘密身份嵌入在各种媒体的物质图像中。我追溯了其中一些从全新世晚期文化到至少青铜时代早期的图像，并提出了与实行真菌崇拜的已知当代文化的类比。我注意到以色列内盖夫和西奈沙漠的岩石艺术中存在着这样的崇拜。据认为，大部分此类艺术品的历史都在过去 5000 年之内。我还建议人类和野山羊之间存在共生关系，蘑菇的生长和采集将两者联系起来。