Бакла в каталог с мистериални орфико-питагорейски забрани от района на Смирна = Cyamos in a Catalogue of Orphic-Pythagorean Prohibitions in a Mystery Cult of Bromios at Smyrna

Abstract

The paper analyzes an inscription from the region pf Smyrna, dated circa late 2nd – early 3rd c. AD. The poetic text seems to present a catalogue of prohibitions in a mystery cult of Dionysos Bromios. Following the conclusions of the excellent analyses, done by Nilson, Keil and Sokolowski, the mystery rite is interpreted as having Bachic, Orphic and Pythagorean character. The prohibitions concern entering the temenos after abortion or being in contact with dead, and some prohibitions of food – egg, heart, embryo, kyamoi etc. Special attention is paid on the prohibition of “… the most hated smelly root of the kyamoi form the seed of the Titans …”. As the seeds of the Broad Bean, that is usually considered when kyamos is mentioned, has no smell, the author suggests that another kyamos is referred here – the Hyoscyamus, the Henbane. This plant is not belonging to the bean family; it has a very unpleasant smell and is strongly hallucinogenic. It is referred as “a seed of Typhon” and very probable is considered in many of the Pythagorean, Eleusinian and Orphic prohibitions about the kyamoi. The plant is well studied by the ancient Greek pharmacologists; there is an abundant evidence for its medicinal, ritual and festal use in Antiquity. It is suggested that this public prohibition concerns the pre-initiation fast, while the initiation ritual included the mentioned realia. Especially the seeds of the Henbane could have been used as an agent of the mystery visions that are usual part of the mystery experience of the epoptai – those who watch/observe.