Personal Experience Of The Divine Flashcards
Earliest and most famous example of a mystery cult
Eleusis
What was unique about the Elusinian mysteries?
anybody could be initiated
Greek word for secret
epopteia- revealed at the end of the initiation ie. offer of eternal life in the Eleusinian Fields
Example of the penalty of sharing the secret of the initiates
Alcibiades convicted for mocking the mysteries- shows the importance of the festival itself and its status as a religious institution in Athens
Origin of the Demeter/Persephone myth
Homeric hymn to Demeter
Demeter’s connection to Eleusis
Disguised as a mortal, the goddess stayed at the palace of the king and queen of Eleusis- when they found out her true identity they built a temple in her honour. In return, she taught them the rites and initiatory rituals
Two events for the mysteries
the ‘Lesser Mysteries’ in spring. Preparing for the ‘Great Mysteries in autumn over a period of 9 days
How did initiates prepare?
fasting and drinking of a special brew (kykeon)- possibly some form of drug. Re-living of the myth of Demeter and Persephone
Two most famous sanctuaries to Asclepius
Asclepion at Epidaurus- pilgrims seeking cure
Asclepion at Cos- school for physicians
What happened when you visited a sanctuary of Asclepius?
preparatory bathing, sacrifices, sleeping in the stoa of the sanctuary (incubation) or under the open sky
Example votive
leg votive- offering made by Tyche to Asclepius and his daughter Hygeia
Example of another healing sanctuary
Amphiareion
Example of journey question at Dodona
Ariston asks whether he should sail to Syracuse
Example of children question at Dodona
Kleanor asks whether he should have children with his current wife
Slave question at Dodona
Kittos asks if he’ll get freedom from Dionysus
Events of the Eleusinian festival before they got to Eleusis
Assembles in the agora to be instructed by the archon basilius, marched to the seaside to undertake a purification ritual, had three days rest, re-assembled in the agora and processed to Eleusis during which they conducted ritual mocking of the old and worshipped other gods too like Aphrodite and Iacchus
Events of the Eleusinian festival when at Eleusis
Not know exactly- fasting and drinking a special drink (possibly some kind of drug to experience a revelation) and a reliving of the myth of Demeter looking for Persephone
What did Clinton think happened at the initiation?
Final acts might even involve blindfolding and then the sudden light of the Telestrion to simulate life after death
The initiation Rose
‘initiates are not supposed to learn anything but rather to experience’
Parke Dodona
‘Dodona’s claim to direct inspiration from Zeus was Delphi’s most important rival’
