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Illinois Classical Studies

ISSN 0363-1923

1 paper in the library · publishing 2026

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A Handful of Herb: A Case Study for Exploring Entheogenic Motifs in Classical Literature

Illinois Classical Studies September 1, 2026 Jonas De Ruyck

Abstract: This article explores entheogenic motifs in a passage from Ovid's Metamorphoses about the transformation of Glaucus. The article argues that this mythological story is a symbolic account of an entheogenic experience catalyzed by a “strange herb with great powers.” It bases its reading on the theories put forward by classicist Carl A. P. Ruck that entheogenic substances had a role and...