|
eleusinian mysteries, a greek society with secrets |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
Eleusinian Mysteries Greek Society with Secrets What was so powerful about the Eleusinian Mysteries that they were banned by early Christians? The promise of life eternal for the faithful was the same in both. Was that it, or was there more? Summary The powerful Eleusinian Mysteries were first taught in Eleusis, just outside Athens, around 1600 BC. The rites continued for two thousand years until being snuffed out by practitioners of Christianity. Those secrets were deemed the path to eternal life, among other teachings. At the heart of the Eleusinian Mysteries were the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. The penalty for divulging the concealed knowledge of the mysteries was death. Ernest William Barnes gave us this view of the Mysteries.
These
mysteries—their secret was well kept—consisted, apparently, of the sight
of sacred scenes and the handling of certain holy things. But their effect
was not merely that of an impressive ritual: it was in some way associated
with the assurance of immortality, the triumph of life over death. Those
truly initiated at Eleusis passed through an experience so charged with
intense feeling that they were, to use a modern religious term,
“changed.” Their outlook on life became different: their moral standards
were higher. They had been “converted.” Doubtless many of the initiated,
perhaps the majority, were not so moved; they merely saw forms and
ceremonies, external to themselves. But the mysteries at Eleusis would not
have lasted for a thousand years had they, for all who partook of them, been
empty of religious inspiration. The
Eleusinian mysteries were quasi-official. They had an assured place in Greek
civilization. Orphism[i]
was not a phase of national life of which the best Greek thinkers were
ashamed. We have already mentioned Pythagoras, who lived in the latter half
of the sixth century before Christ. He in a most exceptional way combined
intellectual power with spiritual distinction; and, in part at any rate,
built his way of life upon Orphic mysticism. But
practically all the mystery cults which ran their course through the
Graeco-Roman world after the third century before Christ met at first with
official disapproval. In essentials they were alien from Graeco-Roman
civilization. Some were demoralizing: some repellently barbarous. Some
openly pandered to the baser instincts of mankind. But all offered religious
excitements which the cold State-faith failed to give. All ultimately
disappeared as Christianity grew in strength. None the less, certain ideas
or modes of feeling common to all had their influence within the victorious
faith.[ii]
. Editor’s
Notes:
[i] Orphism refers to a set of religious beliefs and practices in ancient Greece associated with the mythical poet Orpheus, who was said to have descended into Hades and returned. [ii] From The Rise of Christianity by Ernest William Barnes (London: Longmans Green, 1947), pp. 54-55.
Definition: elusive.... Just out of reach, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries. Secret Society Books:
by Ernest William Barnes (2008) Examines the predecessors, roots and early rise of Christianity, including the Eleusinian Mysteries and other practices. The author was an English mathematician and scientist who later became a churchman. He served as Master of Temple Church at the previous Knights Templar preceptory in London, then became Bishop of Birmingham.
by Christopher Hodapp (2006) Follows Freemasonry through the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers and the design of Washington, DC. Author also wrote Freemasons for Dummies.
Philosophy, History and Wisdom of Freemasonry by Michael R. Poll, editor (2006) A series of articles by various authors on aspects of Freemasonry, including jurisprudence, spiritual significance, Rosicrucianism, and world peace.
by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh (1989) Looks for links between the Knights Templar and Freemasons, via Robert the Bruce, Scots Guard, and Rosslyn Chapel. The authors also wrote Holy Blood, Holy Grail.
by Robert L. D. Cooper (2007) Looks into Masonic structure, culture, connections, sites, and famous members. The author is curator of the Masonic museum and library in Scotland.
by Robert Lomas (2007) Follows a proposed path from Knights Templar to Freemasons, but that route did not produce evidence of connection. Author also wrote Freemasonry and the Birth of Modern Science.
by Malcolm Barber (1995) Covers the history of the Knights Templar at a good level of detail from their origin to the end of the Order. Author also wrote The Trial of the Templars.
Scotland's Century by David Stevenson (1990) Presents activities in Scotland during the 1600's which may have been linked to Freemasonry. Author also wrote The Scottish Revolution 1637-1644.
© 2010 S. Holst |
Eleusinian hydria
Sanctuary at Eleusis
Goddess Demeter on an ancient coin Other books about societies with secrets and secret societies: The Secret Architecture of Our Nation's Capital (2002) by David Ovason. A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry - in Two Volumes (1921) by Arthur Edward Waite. Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982) by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln. The Craft and Its Symbols (1985) by Allen Roberts. The Trial of the Templars (1978) by Malcolm Barber. Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol (1991) by W. Kirk MacNulty. The Rosslyn Hoax? (2006) by Robert L. D. Cooper. The Meaning of Masonry (1922) by W. L. Wilmshurst. Freemason's Guide and Compendium (1950) by Bernard E. Jones. A Dictionary of Freemasonry (ca. 1890) by Robert Macoy.
|
The
Rise of Christianity
