MYSTERIES (RELIGIONS OF)
“Mysterion” (probably derived from “muein”, “close one’s mouth”) designated those secrets that, imparted only to those initiated into a cult, had to be kept secret.
This is regardless of whether it was difficult or easy to understand. As the publicly celebrated cults of the various national gods became more and more discredited, exclusive cults arose and gained more importance, reserved only for those who were willing to go through a series of initiation ceremonies and maintain strict secrecy from the public. the uninitiated.
Many of the ancient gods had additional cults of this type, but in addition there were also mystery cults unrelated to them.
popular cults.
Famous among them were the Eleusinians, who enjoyed the official protection of the state of Athens; others, of a more private, unofficial nature, were the Orphic mysteries, linked to Dionysus.
Of Egyptian origin there was that of Isis and Serapis; Mithraism came from Persia, which had a large number of followers throughout the Empire by the 3rd century AD.
The main characteristics of these mystery religions can be summarized in the following points:
(a) Contrary to the popular conception that these religions gave initiates a revelation of profound truths and esoteric knowledge, what they actually did was provide satisfaction to desires for emotional and mystical expression that were not carried out in official cults.
Aristotle points out that no specific instruction was given, but rather the adepts were brought to a specific mental state (cf. ISBE, p. 2.104); There was no teaching with content but rather symbols and suggestions.
(b) A mystical ceremony was carried out to unite the adept with the deity, as a guarantee of a blessed eternity; In this, the ancient myth of Adonis generally played a great role, dying and coming back to life, thus guaranteeing a happy afterlife for his followers.
(c) The ceremonies were loaded with symbols of the reproductive and germinative power of nature, combined with ideas about human immortality. (d) As already noted, the rites were strictly secret.
But the exclusivity of these mystery religions referred only to those who did not express their desire to be initiated into them.
On the other hand, there was broad admission for all who wanted to take part in them, prior initiation, with the exception of criminals.