| Artemisia II of Caria's Chalice | |
|---|---|
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Origin |
Artemisia II of Caria |
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Type |
Bronze Chalice |
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Effects |
Vivid, happy hallucinations |
|
Downsides |
Addictive |
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Activation |
Drinking from |
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Collected by |
Steve Jinks and Claudia Donovan |
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Section |
|
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Aisle |
58552-5063 |
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Shelf |
917487-33216-4800 |
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Date of Collection |
20 September 2015 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Artemisia II, wife and sister of Mausolus, was the ruler of Caria after the death of her husband in 353 B.C.E.. Though a military strategist, brilliant botanist, and medical researcher, she is now most known for her behavior after becoming widowed.
Following the death of Mausolus, she issued an incredible tomb to be built in his honor. This sepulcher, decorated by some of the most esteemed Greek artists of the time, became known as the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven great wonders of the ancient world. However, while the tomb was being constructed, Artemisia kept the ashes of her husband, and deeply depressed over his death, she would mix some of his ashes into her daily drink.
Despite keeping Caria prosperous and cleverly preventing an attempt to destroy her city, she is thought to have wasted away from depression after only two years of rule.
Effects[]
Artemisia II, in an attempt to see her husband after death, used her medicinal knowledge of local plants to concoct a potent hallucinogen, which she would mix with his ashes. So regularly was this potion consumed and so strong was her grief that this bronze chalice became imbued with its effects.
Drawn to people who are emotionally compromised, drinking from the chalice will cause the user to experience incredibly life-like visions, specifically of whatever experience would make them most happy. Like any hallucinogen, however, the effects are incredibly addicting. Realization that the real world falls short to the illusions of the chalice can drive people back to drinking from it.