Eleusinian mysteries

The Eleusinian mysteries (Greek: Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια Eleusinia Mysteria) were annual celebrations for the cult of Demeter and Persephone in ancient Greece of strictly secret initiations into secret knowledge and experience, centered at Eleusis, observed from 1600 B.C. until A.D. 392. Britannica Encyclopedia calls them the "most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece."[1] The nature of these esoteric initiations and knowledge remains unknown. Murder and sexual impurity disqualified applicants who petitioned to participate. The testimonies of initiates only offers evidence that lives were said to have been permanently changed for the better, and that initiates no longer feared death and the afterlife. There are some slight indications in the ancient sources that the least indirect betrayal of the seal of secrecy was punished by a violent and painful death at the hands of dedicated assassins.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Eleusinian Mysteries (Greek religion) - Encyclopedia Britannica

## See also[edit]

* Ancient Greece

* Mystery religion

* Orphic mysteries

* Gnosticism

* Magic

* Mysticism

* Christian mysteries

## External links[edit]

* The Eleusinian Mysteries, Edward A. Beach.
* The Eleusinian Mysteries, Thomas R. Martin, from An Overview of Classical Greek History from Homer to Alexander.
* Images of Inscriptions about the Mysteries at Eleusis, Cornell University Library.
* The Eleusinian Mysteries: The Rites of Demeter, by Joshua J. Mark (ancient.eu)
* The Eleusinian Mysteries: An Unresolved Ancient Greek Puzzle (ancient-origins.net)
* Eleusinian Mysteries - Wikipedia
* Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii, Text and Images by James W. Jackson (art-and-archaeology.com)
* Frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii (gettyimages.com)