Friday, May 29, 2020

They burned frankincense and weed at ancient Arad

FUMIGATION: New research reveals Cannabis and Frankincense at the Judahite Shrine of Biblical Arad (Phys.Org). The cannabis was mixed with animal dung to make it burn better. I doubt that improved the smell, though.

The site of Arad is well known for its pre-exilic Yahwistic sanctuary and, especially, for the many Hebrew ostraca discovered in the ruins of the fortress. See here (scroll down a bit) and here and links.

I still don't think that Jesus or Moses smoked weed. But this is the first evidence I know of that the ancient Israelites used psychoactive substances in their worship practices. See my comments in this post, which also, coincidentally, has a Shavuot connection.

Also, incidentally, for some reason the archangel Metatron has recently acquired a connection with cannabis.

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