Kykeon (Herbal Drink)

Kykeon was an ancient Greek herbal beverage, notably used in the Eleusinian Mysteries, sacred rituals honoring Demeter. Made from a mixture of water, barley, herbs, and sometimes fermented ingredients, it was believed to induce or enhance spiritual experiences or visions. Its exact recipe remains uncertain, but it played a central role in rituals symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. As a ritual drink, kykeon likely combined medicinal and psychoactive properties, helping participants achieve a state of altered consciousness to connect with divine mysteries.