Altered states of consciousness and ritual in late Bronze Age Cyprus
This thesis combines an anthropological approach to the study of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) with a detailed analysis of previously published evidence for the consumption of psychoactives from Late Bronze Age Cypriote (Late Cypriote) contexts to investigate the possibility that such mental phenomena may have been utilised within religious rituals of this period. This evidence primarily consists of ceramic vessels associated with the consumption of opium and alcohol (often supported by organic residue analysis), but also includes iconography, ethnographic and historical sources and neuro-psychological studies of the effects of the relevant psychoactive substances. This range of evidence is analysed using a âcontextual analysisâ designed to interpret the meanings (symbolic and socio-political) associated with the ASCs these substances can induce, particularly in relation to ritual practice. Within Late Cypriote mortuary ritual, extreme drunkenness and opium-induced ASCs are interpreted to have been symbolically linked to ritualised interaction with the underworld, suggesting that these mental phenomena possessed significant symbolic meaning. In the context of mortuary feasting, however, alcohol
Collard, David
DS Asia ; BF Psychology
Altered states of consciousness and ritual in late Bronze Age Cyprus. This thesis combines an anthropological approach to the study of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) with a detailed analysis of previously published evidence for the consumption of psychoactives from Late Bronze Age Cypriote (Late Cypriote) contexts to investigate the possibility that such mental phenomena may have been utilised within religious rituals of this period. This evidence primarily consists of ceramic vessels associated with the consumption of opium and alcohol (often supported by organic residue analysis), but also includes iconography, ethnographic and historical sources and neuro-psychological studies of the effects of the relevant psychoactive substances. This range of evidence is analysed using a âcontextual analysisâ designed to interpret the meanings (symbolic and socio-political) associated with the ASCs these substances can induce, particularly in relation to ritual practice. Within Late Cypriote mortuary ritual, extreme drunkenness and opium-induced ASCs are interpreted to have been symbolically linked to ritualised interaction with the underworld, suggesting that these mental phenomena possessed significant symbolic meaning. In the context of mortuary feasting, however, alcohol
altered state consciousness ritual late_bronze_age cyprus combine anthropological_study altered states consciousness detail_analysis previously_publish evidence consumption late_bronze_age late context investigate_possibility mental phenomenon may utilise within religious_ritual period evidence primarily consist ceramic_vessel associate consumption opium alcohol often support organic_residue analysis also_include iconography ethnographic historical_source psychological study effect relevant substance range_evidence analyse_use contextual_analysis design interpret meaning symbolic socio_political associate substance induce particularly_relation ritual_practice within late mortuary_ritual extreme opium induced interpret symbolically link interaction underworld suggest mental phenomenon possess significant symbolic_meaning context mortuary feasting however alcohol