Abstract

The relationship between the sacred drink haoma and narcotic plants is a major focus in studying the religious and ritualistic traditions of the ancient people of Indo-Iran and Central Asia. This study addresses this question through an analysis of archaeological data gathered at the Margiana and Bactria geographical locations, which were the home to the Sakas Haomavarga people. This analysis argues that the haoma drink was used as a means of transcending the ordinary state of mind in order to connect with the supranatural realms of reality. Therefore haoma was upheld as a sacred potion among the Iranian-speaking people of the ancient world.

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