Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Apolline divination: hallucinogenic substances or cognitive inputs? The case of the laurel

Frigerio, Giulia (2023) Apolline divination: hallucinogenic substances or cognitive inputs? The case of the laurel. Time and Mind, 15 (3-4). pp. 297-311. ISSN 1751-6978. (doi:10.1080/1751696x.2023.2175618) (KAR id:100286)

Abstract

The use of laurel in Apolline divination at Delphi has been a prominent area of interest in academic debates over the possible influence of drugs on prophets. Previous analyses revealed the absence of chemicals in the bay capable of altering the human consciousness. In this paper, I argue that the laurel did nevertheless have the power to influence the Pythia’s mind through its cognitive impact on divinatory practices. The methodology pursues a cognitive approach that considers the object affordances and the human neural response. The paper concludes that, despite the modality being different from the one proposed in the past, the laurel had a strong impact on divination.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/1751696x.2023.2175618
Uncontrolled keywords: Greek religion; Delphi; divination; cognition; laurel
Subjects: D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D51 Ancient History
D History General and Old World > D History (General)
H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > Department of Classical and Archaeological Studies
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2023 14:09 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Jul 2023 11:24 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/100286 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Frigerio, Giulia.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.