The Ancient Civilization That Enjoyed “Vapor Baths”
Cannabis history stretches far deeper into antiquity than many people realize. Thanks to advances in modern archaeology, scholars now have stronger evidence showing how ancient cultures incorporated hemp and cannabis into ritual, medicine, and daily life.
One of the most compelling examples comes from the Scythians, a nomadic people who occupied vast territories stretching from the Black Sea region to Central Asia between roughly the 8th century BCE and the 3rd century BCE. Greek historian Herodotus, often called the “Father of History,” left behind one of the earliest written accounts of ritual cannabis use among these tribes.
Who Were the Scythians?
The Scythians were formidable horse-riding warriors known for their mobility, archery skills, and elaborate burial traditions. Greek sources described them as fierce and unconventional compared to Mediterranean societies.
Among the groups associated with Scythian culture were warrior women—often linked to the legendary Amazons of Greek mythology. Archaeological discoveries of female burials containing weapons suggest that women in Scythian societies sometimes trained and fought alongside men, lending historical weight to those legends.
They were not only warriors but also artisans, tattoo enthusiasts, and participants in elaborate funerary rituals. Well-preserved remains discovered in Siberian permafrost show intricate animal-style tattoos that reflect their rich symbolic culture.
Herodotus and the Scythian “Vapor Bath”
Herodotus provides a vivid description of what he called a Scythian “vapor bath.”
According to his account, the Scythians would erect small tent-like structures made of felt. Inside, they placed heated stones in a basin or brazier. Cannabis seeds—likely mixed with flowering plant material—were thrown onto the hot stones, producing thick clouds of smoke.
“These seeds smolder and smoke and send forth great clouds of stream. The Scythians howl with joy, awed, and elated by their vapor-bath,” he wrote.
While he referred specifically to seeds, modern researchers note that psychoactive effects would more likely come from flowering tops. It is possible that Herodotus either misunderstood what he observed or that the seeds were mixed with resinous plant matter.
He also noted the following: “As it burns, the people inhale the fumes and become intoxicated, just as Greeks become inebriated with wine... They keep adding more to the fire and become even more intoxicated and dance and sing around the fire.”
Archaeological Evidence Confirms the Practice
For centuries, Herodotus’ account stood largely on its own. But modern archaeology has strengthened his credibility.
Excavations of Scythian burial mounds—known as kurgans—across regions from Eastern Europe to western China have uncovered:
- Wooden tent frameworks
- Bronze braziers
- Heated stones
- Cannabis residues and charred seeds
Chemical analysis of residue found in some braziers has confirmed the presence of cannabinoids, strongly suggesting intentional inhalation rather than incidental use.
Around 300 burial sites have been excavated, many containing horses, weapons, jewelry—and in certain cases, cannabis-burning implements. The inclusion of these tools in graves indicates that cannabis use was socially accepted and possibly ritualized.
Cannabis Across the Eurasian Steppe
Cannabis-related artifacts associated with Scythian and related steppe cultures have been discovered across an enormous geographical range—from Romania and Ukraine to the Altai Mountains of Siberia and parts of western China.
This distribution suggests that cannabis use was not an isolated phenomenon but part of a broader steppe tradition.
More Than Just Vapor Baths
Cannabis was not the only intoxicant in Scythian life. Ancient Greek writers also described their heavy consumption of undiluted wine—unusual by Greek standards, as Greeks typically mixed wine with water.
Combined with evidence of body art, warrior culture, and communal intoxication rituals, the Scythians appear to have embraced altered states as part of social and ceremonial life.
A Society That Normalized Ritual Intoxication
What makes the Scythian story especially intriguing is that their cannabis “vapor baths” appear to have been communal and socially accepted. These were not fringe activities hidden from society—they were described as group experiences, accompanied by shouting, singing, and celebration.
The fact that cannabis-burning kits were buried with the dead suggests that these practices were woven into cultural identity, possibly linked to purification rites, funerary ceremonies, or spiritual experiences.
A Measured Perspective
While modern readers may be tempted to draw playful parallels between ancient Scythians and contemporary stereotypes, it’s more accurate to view their cannabis use within its cultural and ritual context.
For the Scythians, inhaling cannabis vapor was not rebellion—it was tradition.
And thanks to both Herodotus’ writings and modern archaeological science, we now know that the history of cannabis inhalation extends back at least 2,500 years into the windswept steppes of Eurasia.
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Stephen Andrews
