Chemical Muse: Western civilization's roots

If you suffer from poor "vision," you might be stoned with dry eyes and dilated pupils.

The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization

Author Dr. D.C. Ammon Hillman, Ph.D. has 4.6 out of 5 stars with 71 ratings.

The Chemical Muse uncovers decades of [scholarly] misdirection and obfuscation to reveal the history of widespread drug use in ancient Rome and Greece.

In the city-states that gave birth to Western civilization, drugs were an everyday element of a free society.

Often, they were not just available but vitally necessary for use in medicine, religious ceremonies, and war campaigns.

Their proponents and users existed in all classes, from the common soldier to the emperor himself.

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Christian she-male gods

Citing examples in myths, medicine, and literature, Dr. Hillman shows how drugs have influenced and inspired artists, philosophers, and even politicians whose ideas formed the basis for civilization as we know it.

Many of these ancient texts may seem well-known, but Dr. Hillman shows how timid and prudish translations have left scholars and readers in the dark about the reality of drug use in the Classical world.

Dr. Hillman's argument is not simply "pro-drug." Instead, he appeals for an intellectual honesty that acknowledges the use of drugs in ancient societies despite today's conflicting social mores.

In the modern world, where academia and university life are often politically charged, The Chemical Muse offers a unique and long overdue perspective on the contentious topic of drug use and the freedom of thought.

• "The last wild frontier of classical studies" - The Times (UK)

Read sample: The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization (Politics & Social Sciences)