An ancient sacred plant used in Zoroastrian rituals and mentioned in the Avesta, possibly identified with modern ephedra or other psychoactive plants.
From Avestan haoma, from Indo-European root *seu- meaning 'to press or squeeze,' referring to the juice extracted from the plant during ritual preparation.
The haoma ceremony in ancient Persia parallels the soma rituals of ancient India, suggesting Indo-European peoples across Eurasia used similar mind-altering plants in religious practices.
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