Original post: Kajenx
I'm reading a great book on Greek/Roman mythology at the moment (The Age of Fable, published in the 1800's o_O), and it has me wondering. Is there any form of Greek/Roman mysticism, or was it mainly worshiping the myriad of gods and goddesses?
Greek/Roman Mysticism
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Original post: nebhotep
hi
might be able to help if you defined mysticism i know of greek magical techniques used in ptolemaic egypt if thats any help at all
nebhotep
hi
might be able to help if you defined mysticism i know of greek magical techniques used in ptolemaic egypt if thats any help at all
nebhotep
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Original post: shinotenshi
[QUOTE=Kajenx]I'm reading a great book on Greek/Roman mythology at the moment (The Age of Fable, published in the 1800's o_O), and it has me wondering. Is there any form of Greek/Roman mysticism, or was it mainly worshiping the myriad of gods and goddesses?[/QUOTE]
Yes there was. I don't know what they were but I know they did have forms of Mysticism.
[QUOTE=Kajenx]I'm reading a great book on Greek/Roman mythology at the moment (The Age of Fable, published in the 1800's o_O), and it has me wondering. Is there any form of Greek/Roman mysticism, or was it mainly worshiping the myriad of gods and goddesses?[/QUOTE]
Yes there was. I don't know what they were but I know they did have forms of Mysticism.
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Original post: Kajenx
Where could I find information on that? Or would you care to explain it?
hi
might be able to help if you defined mysticism i know of greek magical techniques used in ptolemaic egypt if thats any help at all
nebhotep
Where could I find information on that? Or would you care to explain it?
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Original post: Winnipeg1919
There are quite a variety of sources with information on the mystery traditions of Greece and Rome.
Look up "Orpheus" by G. R. S. Mead for one.
An ancient view can be found in "The Bacchantes" by Euripides, who was an initiate. Another in "The Golden Ass" by Lucius Apuleius.
Manly P. Hall has a large amount of information in "The Secret Teachings of All Ages."
In Classical Greece there were a number of different mystery traditions, the most famous was based at Eleusis.
There are quite a variety of sources with information on the mystery traditions of Greece and Rome.
Look up "Orpheus" by G. R. S. Mead for one.
An ancient view can be found in "The Bacchantes" by Euripides, who was an initiate. Another in "The Golden Ass" by Lucius Apuleius.
Manly P. Hall has a large amount of information in "The Secret Teachings of All Ages."
In Classical Greece there were a number of different mystery traditions, the most famous was based at Eleusis.
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Original post: Samhain
Hesiod's Works and Days will give you a good background on Greek religion and society before you try to delve into the specialized world of the Greek mystery cults, which were the basis of most of their mystical activities. The Homeric Hymns is a collection of ancient Greek hymns to various Deities. The Ancient Mysteries, a Sourcebook, edited by Marvin W. Meyer, provides information on the Eleusinian, Anadanisan and Dionysian mysteries of Greece, as well as the Roman form of the Mithraic mysteries. Archaic Roman Religion by Georges Dumézil discusses the original Roman religion and the Latinized version of Greek religion that largely replaced it. If I remember correctly, Dumézil says quite a bit about the ways in which the chapel based religion of the early Romans differed from the processional based religion that they adopted from Latinized Greek sources.
There are lots of other books on Greek and Roman mysticism, but those ones should give you a start. Just remember that although the Romans adopted various religious practices from other countries, they usually modified them to fit the Roman mindset.
Hesiod's Works and Days will give you a good background on Greek religion and society before you try to delve into the specialized world of the Greek mystery cults, which were the basis of most of their mystical activities. The Homeric Hymns is a collection of ancient Greek hymns to various Deities. The Ancient Mysteries, a Sourcebook, edited by Marvin W. Meyer, provides information on the Eleusinian, Anadanisan and Dionysian mysteries of Greece, as well as the Roman form of the Mithraic mysteries. Archaic Roman Religion by Georges Dumézil discusses the original Roman religion and the Latinized version of Greek religion that largely replaced it. If I remember correctly, Dumézil says quite a bit about the ways in which the chapel based religion of the early Romans differed from the processional based religion that they adopted from Latinized Greek sources.
There are lots of other books on Greek and Roman mysticism, but those ones should give you a start. Just remember that although the Romans adopted various religious practices from other countries, they usually modified them to fit the Roman mindset.
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Original post: nebhotep
hi
well the you can find all the greek / egyptian spells in the Greek Magical Papyri, amazon even sell copies of them, send me a personal message with any questions and id be willing to answer them. tho they are mainly spells not so much mystical grups yes good suggestion about the Bacchai is a good introduction. of sorts.#
nebhotep
hi
well the you can find all the greek / egyptian spells in the Greek Magical Papyri, amazon even sell copies of them, send me a personal message with any questions and id be willing to answer them. tho they are mainly spells not so much mystical grups yes good suggestion about the Bacchai is a good introduction. of sorts.#
nebhotep
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Original post: Demetrios
[QUOTE=Kajenx]I'm reading a great book on Greek/Roman mythology at the moment (The Age of Fable, published in the 1800's o_O), and it has me wondering. Is there any form of Greek/Roman mysticism, or was it mainly worshiping the myriad of gods and goddesses?[/QUOTE]
The fact that word "mysticism" comes from Greek language (myizein - to hold silent) should give a hint.
Most famous Greek local mystery cult was that of Eleusis, Dionysiac and Orphic cults were more widespread, etc. Tons of info available if you care to search.
[QUOTE=Kajenx]I'm reading a great book on Greek/Roman mythology at the moment (The Age of Fable, published in the 1800's o_O), and it has me wondering. Is there any form of Greek/Roman mysticism, or was it mainly worshiping the myriad of gods and goddesses?[/QUOTE]
The fact that word "mysticism" comes from Greek language (myizein - to hold silent) should give a hint.
Most famous Greek local mystery cult was that of Eleusis, Dionysiac and Orphic cults were more widespread, etc. Tons of info available if you care to search.
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Original post: SquirleyWurley
Then there's Neoplatonism.
Plotinus certainly qualifies as mystical and Pagan. His student Iamblichus, sought to come up with an overarching Theurgic system/framework to unite the Pagans and Mystery Religions of the empire, as a unified front against Christian onslaught. Proclus continued in that vein.
I'd recommend these sections of Plotinus' Enneads, for those interested in a taste:
Ennead 1, part 6, Beauty
Ennead I, part 3, On Dialectic [The Upward Way]
Ennead III, part 8, Nature Contemplation and the One
Ennead III, part 4, Our Tutelary Spirit
Ennead 5, part 4, How the Secondaries rise from the First: and on the One
Then there's Neoplatonism.
Plotinus certainly qualifies as mystical and Pagan. His student Iamblichus, sought to come up with an overarching Theurgic system/framework to unite the Pagans and Mystery Religions of the empire, as a unified front against Christian onslaught. Proclus continued in that vein.
I'd recommend these sections of Plotinus' Enneads, for those interested in a taste:
Ennead 1, part 6, Beauty
Ennead I, part 3, On Dialectic [The Upward Way]
Ennead III, part 8, Nature Contemplation and the One
Ennead III, part 4, Our Tutelary Spirit
Ennead 5, part 4, How the Secondaries rise from the First: and on the One
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Original post: earthwalk
can't be more difficult than plotinus and that stuf, so if you've nothing better to do maybe you wanna check peter kingsley's 'dark places of wisdom.' if greeks had mystic stuff i guess that book is as near as damn. his last ('real' or 'reality,' don't remember the title) gets kinda nowhere and his first 'ancient magic blah blah' is kinda heavy. Good luck.
can't be more difficult than plotinus and that stuf, so if you've nothing better to do maybe you wanna check peter kingsley's 'dark places of wisdom.' if greeks had mystic stuff i guess that book is as near as damn. his last ('real' or 'reality,' don't remember the title) gets kinda nowhere and his first 'ancient magic blah blah' is kinda heavy. Good luck.