Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

Bacchic Mysteries. 159prison, and bound with fetters, confirms theexplanationof the fable herebolical of the descent of the soul ;given as symfor such,as we have already largely proved, is thecondition of the soul from its union with thebody, according to the uniform testimony ofthe most ancient philosophers and priests.*After this, the wanderings of Ceres for thediscovery of Proserpina commence. She isdescribed, by Minutius Felix, as begirt witha serpent, and bearing two lighted torches inher hands ;but by Claudian, instead of beinggirt with a serpent, she commences hersearch by night in a car drawn by dragons.But the meaning of the allegory is the samein each ;for both a serpent and a dragon areemblems of a divisible life subjectto transitions and changes, with which, in this case,our intellectual (and diviner) part becomesconnected : since as these animals put offtheir skins, and become young again, so* Mantels, jAaviEi?, not Ispsi?.The term is more commonly translated prophets, and actually signifies persons gifted with divineinsight, through being in an entheastic condition, called also maniaor divine fury.