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Original post: Mmothra

06-21-2004, 10:53 AM
The Eleusinian Mysteries have fascinated me since I was a teen but I have never found any really coherent or comprehensive information about them. The little that I know is:

The rape of Persephone and the grieving of Demeter are involved
Psychoactives (probably ergot, considering it's Demeter we're talking about) were probably utilized.
Iacchos (aka Dionysos Zagreus) is somehow also involved.
Can anyone with a better grounding in this tradition help? Does anyone integrate aspects of this ancient rite into their own practice?
KCh
06-21-2004, 12:09 PM

Try this link to the Encyclopidia Mythica:

http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html

Search for Eleusies or Dionysus or Iacchus

Baphmetis
06-30-2004, 04:24 PM

I am also interested in the Eleusinian Mysteries after reading about the worship of Demeter. I don't know very much about it, but the rituals that were involved were highly secretive. Those who were involved were sworn to secrecy and threatened with death.

I would also be interested if anyone has any good sources for this form of ritual.

Metatron
07-02-2004, 09:44 AM

Hi,

Eleusinian Mysteries and Dionysos are two different mystic traditions, although they naturally have the same kind of mysteries. The initiation however, was fairly similar.

For a very graphic view of the initiation into a Dionysos cult, and have a look at the "Villa of mysteries" in Pompeii (yes the Romans too had a Dionysos cult).

http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/723_Vill ... eries.html

Here are a few pictures. You might find more pics on google.

Once they make sense to you, the mystery is at your doorstep.

If you really want, i will write down a text to og with each picture.
But generally its read like a cartoon from right to center, then again from left to center. Its about a young girl being led (by her mother or guardian) to her first expirence of the mysteries. The paintings was meant as a comfort to the young mystes (the person to undergo initiation), but as you see when you look closer, also prepare her for the violence of the event. It is unlikely that the initiation has taken place in that room, my guess is that this was the waiting room, where she was left alone filled by fear and comfort (however strange that might sound).


It will make no sense unless your mythological background is top-notch

Hope you can use this.

buddha
07-02-2004, 09:52 AM

i think i have something about them in obe of my books, i try to dins it and translate some of it into english, i don't think danish writings makes any sense to you..

Original post: Demetrios

Since Eleusinian mysteries were a MYSTERY (from the Greek word myizein, 'to keep silent'), and because Greeks were revering people and thus at least occasionally kept their mouths shut, virtually nothing is know about what actually took place during the mysteries.

But, to my knowledge, in the hellenistic times, the cult of Demeter came to be identified with the cult of Isis. If you are interested in academic approach, "Interpreting early Hellenistic religion: A study based on the mystery cult of Demeter & the cult of Isis",
By Petra Pakkanen (1996) might be of interest.

Original post: Metatron

Hi,

Yes mysteries were exactly that, secret. However, since the majority of the initiated where women, how do you think the secret could keep?

Sorry, couldnâ??t resist that joke.

Anyway, as you point out; various cults do have something in common. Naturally this is because the mysteries are universal; reveal a part of the way the world works.

Sure there were local variations, and the names change, but what went on was basically the same. Even today there are places of initiation, but donâ??t even bother look for them, they are NOT among anything you are likely to come into contact with.

For a very realistic look at the Hellenistic mysteries, try getting â??Dionysiacaâ?Â

Original post: Demetrios

[QUOTE=Metatron]Hi,

Yes mysteries were exactly that, secret. However, since the majority of the initiated where women, how do you think the secret could keep?

Sorry, couldnâ??t resist that joke.

Anyway, as you point out; various cults do have something in common. Naturally this is because the mysteries are universal; reveal a part of the way the world works.

Sure there were local variations, and the names change, but what went on was basically the same. Even today there are places of initiation, but donâ??t even bother look for them, they are NOT among anything you are likely to come into contact with.

For a very realistic look at the Hellenistic mysteries, try getting â??Dionysiacaâ?Â

Original post: Metatron

.Hi Demetrios,

I will have a look at the text you mentioned, still nothing compares to Nonnus (well nothing i have heard about). When you get the text, maybe we should start a thread about it. Just need to get mine back from a friend. Also i was once given a very good key to the text, which i dont mind sharing, since the Nonnus text might seem quite odd without a proper introduction. Mostly sex and the whipping of young girls.

I'm aware of modern day initiations (through a Danish writer) that seem based on early Greek initiations. Since I have only descriptions, I can't tell if these people have any religious experience, although they say so, and also have a sound theory for the experiment.
Mind you we are not talking about any "new age" group, but about approaching the problem from science, particularly neurology. A very interesting group.

It seems limiting the prefrontal cortex, can produce experiences not unlike psychedelic chemicals, or if we are to believe the esoteric traditions, psychedelics can produce rudimentary religious experiences.
The real question must be; does initiation transcend the actual world, and reveal it as it really is, or does the initiation induce a â??schizophrenicâ?Â

Original post: Metatron

Hi,

When we talk about initiations, it is my firm belief that the personal experience of the divine, has always existed in religious societies. That is what initiation is.

Various cultures have guarded the mysteries, or the initiation into them, with various levels of secrecy. The Elysian mysteries were almost public, meaning everyone was offered a chance to participate. Whereas Babylonian mysteries belonged in the temple, there professional initiates, the priests and priestesses (temple harlots), undertook the venture.

To me itâ??s also clear that initiation would have been an identical process. Not necessarily by the same means, but certainly the same result; to experience the â??divineâ?Â

Original post: MaeveQ

its nice