Abstract
Since ancient times, theriacs have been among the most popular remedies due to their complex and mysterious preparation as well as their purported magical properties. In Turkey, this kind of remedy is still in use due to its attributed aphrodisiac effects. This is particularly the case for mesir macunu (mesir paste), better known as electuary of sultans, which is distributed to the public during the festivals celebrated on the first day of spring called nevruz (literally, ‘new day’). We find this word in the term nevruziye, another sort of paste that was developed for the use of the sultan and his entourage. The Turkish words tiryak, macun, and nevruziye appear in many literary texts including novels, poems, and travel writings. One of the earliest examples of the word tiryak appears in the 13th century, in the works of the Turkish poet and humanist Yunus Emre (1241–1321). In the 17th century, in his famous Seyahatname, the Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi (1611–1682), attributed over one hundred healing properties to theriacs with a possible exaggeration. Today, some Turkish writers like Elif Safak (1971–) remember these panaceas and use its formulae to adorn their writings.
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