Current research indicates the Oracles at Delphi, who basically gave advice to everyone from Oedipus to Croesus on behalf of Apollo, were high sniffing ethylene fumes.
Scientists don’t know about Apollo, but evidence is growing that the priestesses, known as pythia, were ripped on hydrocarbon gases, especially ethylene, a sometime anesthetic which, taken in modest doses, can induce lively conversation of a somewhat incoherent nature.
[…] Ethylene, Spiller explained, produces “stages” of anesthesia. Low doses induce “disembodied euphoria, with periods of excitation and amnesia,” he said. But at higher doses, “you get delirium, hysteria and a combative, agitated state,” he added. Further along comes unconsciousness and, if one is not careful, death.
Groovy, man. Watch out for those Persians, y’know? And, pass the chips.
(Via Blather)