Liam McEvoy, a UC Berkeley student, has been delving into the mystery of the Egyptian blue lotus, a plant celebrated in ancient mythology and often depicted in archaeological findings. His research reveals that the blue lotus used in ancient Egypt is different from what is marketed online today.
McEvoy explains that “the blue lotus used in ancient Egypt and the water lily advertised online are completely different plants.” His studies involve comparing authentic Nymphaea caerulea with samples sold on platforms like Etsy. The results showed higher levels of nuciferine—a psychoactive compound—in the verified Egyptian blue lotus compared to its online counterparts.
“I knew from the very beginning this was going to be my Berkeley thing,” McEvoy said. He aims to dispel myths surrounding the plant’s use by investigating its historical consumption methods. Contrary to popular belief, he suggests that ancient Egyptians might have infused oil with the flower before adding it to wine, rather than simply soaking it.
“The stuff being sold online is not the same, and our findings suggest the blue lotus is actually unique in comparison to other water lilies,” McEvoy noted.
His journey began after watching a BBC series called Sacred Weeds, which piqued his interest in whether modern-day flowers matched those from antiquity. Collaborating with chemists at UC Berkeley, McEvoy conducted mass spectrometry tests revealing significant differences between genuine and marketed plants.
“We’re beginning to think the ancient Egyptians didn’t just put it into wine,” he hypothesized. “We hypothesize they actually created an infused oil, which was later added into wine.”
Looking ahead, McEvoy plans further chemical analysis using liquid chromatography on both fresh samples and artifacts housed at UC Berkeley’s Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology. This could potentially uncover traces of fat molecules supporting his theory about ancient rituals involving oil-infused beverages.
McEvoy intends to pursue a career in intellectual property law post-graduation but remains committed to finishing his experiments first. He believes that integrating perspectives from anthropology can enrich understandings across disciplines: “There should be someone at the table who has studied people—not just economics, money or political science.”
Together with professors Evan Williams and Anthony Iavarone as well as Ph.D. candidate Veena Avadhani, McEvoy continues exploring how ancient practices intersect with modern scientific inquiry: “A rare example of how ancient magic and modern science can come together.”
