I HEAR VOICES AND SEE GHOSTS: HALLUCINATIONS IN THE MIDDLE AGES

The Middle Ages transport us to a world of hallucinations where the border between reality and imagination blurs / Juan Carlos Erdozáin Rivera

Bosch and Bruegel, Precursors of Surrealism in the 16th Century

My dedication to pictorial research from the 15th to the 16th centuries has led me to feel a special fascination with the 15th century. Within this period, the work of Pieter Brueghel the Elder , with his marked influence from Hieronymus Bosch, particularly stands out. Both masters share such a singular vision that their paintings seem to prefigure 20th-century surrealism, being some four hundred years ahead of their time.

Next, I will focus specifically on the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, whose images, when contemplated, transport us to a world of medieval hallucinations, where the boundary between reality and imagination blurs.

Precisely while doing some research through several video documents, I was surprised to find a very serious channel "Dosis Heroica" , from where I obtained a very interesting video clip about "El Bosco and the Hallucinations of the Middle Ages" that I allow myself to share below.

The Fantastic Worlds of Bosch: A Look at the Middle Ages

To see the video help click on the image below; you can hear it in English

Hieronymus Bosch: Medieval Hallucinations and Rye Bread

Imagine a world where the food that sustains you can also cause horrible visions, painful convulsions, and even gangrene. This was a real fear in the Middle Ages, caused by a fungus called ergot.

Ergot is a parasitic fungus that attacks grains like rye. Instead of a normal grain, it produces a dark, toxic structure called sclerotium. If flour made from contaminated rye was used to make bread, people who ate it could suffer from a disease called ergotism, or St. Anthony's fire.

The Terrible Effects of Ergotism or Saint Anthony's Fire

Ergotism manifested itself in two main ways:

🟡 Gangrenous ergotism caused a burning pain in the extremities, as if they were being consumed by fire. Circulation was cut off, and tissue died and could even slough off.

🟢 Convulsive Ergotism, caused violent convulsions, muscle spasms, vivid hallucinations, delusions, and states of mental confusion.

Bosch and his Mysterious Paintings

Hieronymus Bosch (Bosch), a painter who lived between the 15th and 16th centuries, is famous for his works filled with strange creatures, dreamlike scenes, and depictions of sin and hell. His paintings, such as "The Garden of Earthly Delights" and "The Temptations of Saint Anthony," are populated by grotesque demons, fantastic animals, and human figures suffering unusual torments.

A Hidden Connection?

Some art historians and scholars have suggested a possible connection between Bosch's disturbing imagery and the effects of ergotism. Could the hallucinations and delusions experienced by ergot sufferers have influenced the painter's imagination? It seems that

The hallucinations, terrifying visions, and fantastic creatures that populate Bosch's paintings could reflect the vivid hallucinations suffered by people poisoned with ergot.

Suffering and Torture, the scenes of suffering and torture in his paintings could be related to the intense physical pain and convulsions of ergotism.

Fear and the Demonic: In a deeply religious era, the inexplicable symptoms of ergotism were often interpreted as the work of the devil. The demonic depictions and struggles against evil in Bosch's work may reflect this collective fear.

A Fascinating Theory, Not a Certainty

It's important to remember that this connection between ergot and Bosch's work is an interesting theory, but not an absolute truth. There is no direct evidence that the painter experienced ergotism or that his art is a literal representation of its effects.

I hear voices and see ghosts. Divine Visions or Silent Poison?

As I already mentioned, Ergot is a parasitic fungus of grasses, which emerges as a historical agent of profound impact, particularly in the medieval context.

Ergot produces toxic alkaloids lodged in the sclerotia that replace the grain, creating a pathological condition known as ergotism, the manifestations of which range from peripheral gangrene to severe neuropsychiatric disturbance.

Famines in the Middle Ages may have favored the prevalence and consumption of ergot when consumption of contaminated cereals was more likely.

From the perspective of psychohistory, ergotism forces a re-evaluation of phenomena that have traditionally been ascribed to the realm of the supernatural.

Complex hallucinations and delusions induced by fungal poisoning offer a plausible biological substrate for the interpretation of religious visions and manifestations of demonic possession.

DID JOAN OF ARC LISTEN TO GOD'S COMMAND?

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In this sense, the figure of Joan of Arc, whose "voices" have been the subject of theological and psychological speculation, could be reconsidered through the lens of possible exposure to ergot.

Furthermore, Joan of Arc was not "The Maid of Orleans", said Maid was a very old legend that the King of France Charles VII manipulated, making people believe that Joan of Arc was the real Maid of Orleans, to use her as a strategic tool to unite his people and the French military against the English.

Based on the fact that Rye Soil produces complex hallucinations similar to those induced by certain psychotropic drugs, these hallucinations could have been interpreted as religious visions or supernatural manifestations. Joan of Arc and His experience of "voices" guiding his actions could, theoretically, have been influenced by the neuropsychiatric effects of ergot, although this is impossible to confirm.

Was witchcraft real in the Middle Ages?

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Episodes of mass hysteria, as occurred in 17th-century England and later in the Salem trials, could find a partial explanation in the psychotropic effects of the fungus ( Ergot of Rye), in conjunction with sociopolitical and psychological factors.

Religious interpretations

In a society where religion played a central role, ergot-induced experiences could have been interpreted as divine or diabolical manifestations.

The dichotomy between the divine and the pathological blurs with the evidence that a biological agent may have modulated the perception and behavior of entire communities. This is not about reducing the richness of religious experience to mere neurochemical processes, but rather about recognizing the intersection between biology and culture.

Beliefs in witchcraft

Neurological and psychiatric symptoms could have led to accusations of witchcraft, especially in communities where superstitions prevailed.

Mass hysteria, such as "dances macabre" and other anomalous group behavior, could have been, in part, the result of mass ergot poisoning.

It is imperative to underscore the complexity of historical phenomena. The influence of ergot, although significant, should not be considered an exclusive factor. Cultural aspects, religious beliefs, and sociopolitical conditions played crucial roles in the interpretation of anomalous experiences.

Ergot reveals itself as a silent actor in the theater of history, capable of shaping perception and behavior, and contributing to the genesis of phenomena that have defied rational understanding.

Interdisciplinary research, which integrates history, biology, and psychology, stands as the way to unravel the enigmas that this fungus (Ergot) has left to posterity.

The Effect of Alkaloids

The alkaloids present in ergot sclerotia, particularly ergotamine and ergonovine, possess pharmacological properties that can induce a wide range of neuropsychiatric and physiological effects. These effects include:

🔴Seizures and muscle spasms, neurological manifestations that could have been attributed to demonic possession or divine intervention.

🔵Circulatory disorders: alkaloid-induced peripheral vasoconstriction can lead to gangrene, a phenomenon associated with "St. Anthony's fire" in the medieval context.

🟡Mood and cognitive disturbances, including delirium, paranoia, and confusion, which may have influenced perceptions of reality.

While ergot cannot fully explain complex phenomena such as mystical experiences or accusations of witchcraft, its potential impact should not be underestimated. Integrating scientific evidence with historical and sociocultural analysis allows for a deeper understanding of how this fungus may have influenced perceptions of reality in the past. It is essential to maintain a critical and multifactorial approach when examining these events.

So, the next time you hear voices from beyond the grave, see dead people, observe strange creatures and dreamscapes, remember Hieronymus Bosch and the story of ergot, and how a tiny fungus may have left a dark and fascinating mark on the art of the Middle Ages.

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