650-600 BC The heroe of the Gilgamesh Epos finds a `plant of immortality` wich transforms into a snake. *** The Assyrians mention a „harmful pustule in the corns ear“.

450 BC Hippocrates mentions abortion in certain women after a wet winter and dry spring (supporting the ergot parasites growth), and elsewhere he attributes an oxytocic action to barley (assumed to be ergotized).

350 BC The Parner hold evidence that corn seeds have a harmful effect to pregnant woman: resulting in uterine prolapses and the sudden death`s of unborn children.

300 BC In their scriptures (death sea scrolls of Qumran) the pre-christian Gnostics mention a magical mushroom as the „healer“ and „redeemer“

200 BC The creation story of the bible`s in the old testament is drawn up by a jewish rabby. In his version of `Eden`s first drug bust` the `tree of knowledge` and the `tree of immortality` play an important role. He uses the apple as the tree`s magical fruit, as `malus` (bad) was earlier translated with `apple` into latin.

300-325 AD The god `Attis` symbolizes the harvested corn and cutten crop in the area between Turkey and Iran. *** The `Concilum of Nicaeum` results in the official condemnation of all cults, opposing the catholic doctrine. The gnostic knowledge with it`s `Great Mystery` cults and ancient goddess-whorshipping rites, is driven underground.

395 AD The Eleusian temples are destroyed by the gothic king Alarich. *** With the christianisation the ancient `mystery cults`, having existed in `Eleusis` and elsewhere, for more than 2000 years, disappear.

875 The first historical data of people intoxicated by ergot-parasitized flour. `Ergotism`, the first historical known mass-hysteria spreads in Xanten, northern Germany during the middle ages. *** In Spain the plague is called `Magdalena lichen`. In Europe`s south, tarantula spiders are held responsible for the poisoning, although it is clear that most cases are unrelated to spiders.

994 About 40.000 citizens of Aquitaine and Limousin (France) die from hunger, holy fire and pestilence. The ergotism and the ergot alkaloids receive their name after the french `argot` – it is related to the parasite on wheat and barley crops.

1021 Starving people eat rye-flower from infected crops. Ergot epidemic appears all across Europe. *** The treatment of ergotism-victims begins (1100). Religious ceremonies exorcise the ergotism as if it is the work of demons. The plague and the people`s wounds are termed `Antonius Fire` as St. Antonius becomes the patroned saint of the poisoned.

1207 Rumi Masnavi the founder of the Turkish dervish order writes In his Ma`navi poetry about the gnosis revealing, transformative character of the wheat seed.

1278 The name `Choros-`, `St. Vitus-`or `Maniac Dancing` was adopted after a group of 200 people danced so spiritedly on a bridge, above the Maas river in Germany, that it collapsed, killing many. Survivors were treated in the nearby chapel St. Vitus. *** A group of people in Aix-la-Chapelle uncontrollably dancing in the streets until exhaustion, foaming from the mouth, convulsing and hallucinating (1374). The `Dancing sickness` in Germany: in Cologne 500, in Metz 1100 people dance in the streets. Music and dance seem to be the only effective remedy against the ergot-gangrene. The mania reaches Strasbourg in the year 1418 when thousands of dancers fill the streets to `rock around the clock`.

1500 Jheronimus Bosch paints the `Temptation of St. Antonius` as well as `Holy Antonius fire` victims with leg- and arm amputations. *** In his `Herbal Book`, botanic doctor Adam Lonitzer publishes the first exact description of `mutterkorn` (Claviceps purpurea) growing on grain and responsible for the epidemic `Ergotism` (1582) *** In central Europe healers & witches are wisdom-keepers of advanced herbal knowledge *** Johann VI. kindles up the witch hunt in Germany. Around Berlin 306 people in 20 villages are burnt to death.

1600 While ergotism slowly disappears, the `manic dancing` becomes a subject of medical research. `St. Vitus dance` is stripped of its unhallowed character as a work of demons by Dr. Paracelsus. *** Ergotism returns in the french district Sologne (1630, 1676, 1709, 1747, 1770, 1777) as well as in Germany, Russia and Scandinavia. *** The Frenchman Tuillier feeds chickens with ergot-infected grain, to detect the reason for the spreading of the so called `Antonius fire`, also named `holy Sanctus` (1630) *** The effects of ergotism leads to a witch hunt hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts (1692), described in detail in Arthur Miller’s `The Crucible` (1953).*** Angelus Silesius experiences singularity using the `philosophers Stone.

1700 Dungeon, torture and death as punishment for participation in the mushroom-cult are strong motives for the alchemists to keep their practice of self-intoxication disquised. *** Knowing that midwifes have used Ergot `Secale cornutum` since ages to trigger labour contractions, Rudolf Jakob Camerarius turns `Pulvis ad partum` into one of the most important birth supporting medicines used until 1907. ***

1770 `Ergotism` spreads like the plague in central Europe: Celle, Hamburg, Duisburg *** 20.000 deaths alone in the army of `Peter the Great` (1772) *** 8.000 die during a mass-intoxication in Sologne (France).*** Finally in Germany a doctor Johann Taube recognizes `Mutterkorn` as the cause for `Ergotism`. He terms it `Kriebel sickness`. *** The farmers revolt (begin of the French Revolution) and rich and commercial cities become the scene of ruinous disorder (1789). Messengers are sent out to inform farmers and people about the facts leading to ergot-plagues & the so called Antonius disease.