Post by Allan on Jul 5, 2007 22:04:55 GMT -5
Mysteries (ancient rituals), secret rites and ceremonies connected with various religious worships of ancient Greece and Rome. These rites and ceremonies were known to, and practiced by, congregations of men and women who had been duly initiated; no other persons were allowed to participate. The origin and purpose of the mysteries are unknown. The theory that the mysteries concealed deep truths and remnants of a primitive revelation too profound for the popular mind is no longer believed, but undoubtedly the sacred rituals brought to the initiates secret religious doctrines, which in many instances were concerned with the continuance of life beyond the grave. The mysteries consisted of purifications, sacrificial offerings, processions, songs, dances, and dramatic performances. Often the birth, suffering, death, and resurrection of a god were enacted in dramatic form. The aim of the mysteries seems to have been twofold, namely, to give comfort and moral instruction for life on earth, and to inspire hope for life after death.
The earliest and most important Greek mysteries were the Orphic, the Eleusinian, and the Dionysiac. The Orphic mysteries were those of a mystic cult founded, according to tradition, by the legendary poet and musician Orpheus, to whom was attributed a great mass of religious literature (see Orphism). Far more celebrated were the Eleusinian mysteries, connected with the worship of the goddesses Demeter and Persephone at Eleusis in Attica; with these divinities were associated Pluto, god of the underworld; Iacchus, a name of the youthful Dionysus, god of vegetation and of wine; and other gods. The worship of Dionysus, or Bacchus, at Athens was accompanied by feasts, processions, and musical and dramatic performances. In later times the mysteries associated with Dionysus became occasions for intoxication and gross licentiousness. They were forbidden at Thebes and later elsewhere in Greece. As the Bacchanalia these rites were introduced into Rome early in the 2nd century bc. At first the mysteries were celebrated only by women; when they were opened to men, the gatherings were suspected of gross immoralities, and in 186 bc the Roman Senate attempted to suppress the rites by decree.
Secret rites were a part of the worship of several Greek deities, such as Hera, queen of the gods, Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Hecate, goddess of the underworld. Many foreign religions adopted by the Greeks and Romans had mysteries connected with the worship of the divinity; these religions included the worship of the Phrygian goddess Cybele, the “great mother” of the gods; the Egyptian Isis, goddess of the moon, nature, and fertility; and the Persian Mithras, god of the sun. The worship of these deities spread throughout the Greco-Roman world and was extremely popular in the early centuries of the Roman Empire. Isis, who at an early date had been identified with Demeter, was worshiped in Italy as late as the 5th century ad.
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The earliest and most important Greek mysteries were the Orphic, the Eleusinian, and the Dionysiac. The Orphic mysteries were those of a mystic cult founded, according to tradition, by the legendary poet and musician Orpheus, to whom was attributed a great mass of religious literature (see Orphism). Far more celebrated were the Eleusinian mysteries, connected with the worship of the goddesses Demeter and Persephone at Eleusis in Attica; with these divinities were associated Pluto, god of the underworld; Iacchus, a name of the youthful Dionysus, god of vegetation and of wine; and other gods. The worship of Dionysus, or Bacchus, at Athens was accompanied by feasts, processions, and musical and dramatic performances. In later times the mysteries associated with Dionysus became occasions for intoxication and gross licentiousness. They were forbidden at Thebes and later elsewhere in Greece. As the Bacchanalia these rites were introduced into Rome early in the 2nd century bc. At first the mysteries were celebrated only by women; when they were opened to men, the gatherings were suspected of gross immoralities, and in 186 bc the Roman Senate attempted to suppress the rites by decree.
Secret rites were a part of the worship of several Greek deities, such as Hera, queen of the gods, Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Hecate, goddess of the underworld. Many foreign religions adopted by the Greeks and Romans had mysteries connected with the worship of the divinity; these religions included the worship of the Phrygian goddess Cybele, the “great mother” of the gods; the Egyptian Isis, goddess of the moon, nature, and fertility; and the Persian Mithras, god of the sun. The worship of these deities spread throughout the Greco-Roman world and was extremely popular in the early centuries of the Roman Empire. Isis, who at an early date had been identified with Demeter, was worshiped in Italy as late as the 5th century ad.
© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.