A Handful of Herb: A Case Study for Exploring Entheogenic Motifs in Classical Literature
Jonas De Ruyck
Illinois Classical Studies September 1, 2026 DOI: 10.5406/23285265.51.1.02 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Ovid's story of Glaucus's transformation is a symbolic account of an entheogenic experience catalyzed by a 'strange herb with great powers,' a reading grounded in Carl A. P. Ruck's theories about entheogens in classical society and supported by modern scientific insights into entheogenic experiences. |
Abstract
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 function in classical society. The reading explores layers of meaning and clear motifs that refer to the entheogenic experience backed up by modern-day scientific insight into these profound experiences. It aims to provide the reader new insights about this remarkable passage and makes a case as to why this reading is indeed very fitting for the overall poetics of flow and change in this classical poem.
Citations in the library
Cites 2
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- Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT PLoS One April 23, 2019