Ancient Opium
Wall art from the Tomb of Horemheb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings depicts a person holding two round vessels representing poppy flowers. The ancient Egyptians used the poppy opiate morphine for pain relief, but its therapeutic role was controversial (El Ansary et al., 2003).
Wall art from the Tomb of Horemheb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings depicts a person holding two round vessels representing poppy flowers. The ancient Egyptians used the poppy opiate morphine for pain relief, but its therapeutic role was controversial (El Ansary et al., 2003).
© Gianni Dagli Orti/Corbis