Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

Introduction. 13initiation in which is unvailed to us the Present as anew birth from our own life. Thus the great problemof Idealism is symbolically solved in the *Eleusinia."These were the most celebrated of all the sacredorgies, and were called, by way of eminence, TheMysteries. Although exhibiting apparentlythe features of an Eastern origin, they were evidently copiedfrom the rites of Isis in Egypt, an idea of which, moreor lesscorrect, may be found in The Metamorphoses ofApuleius and The Epicurean by Thomas Moore.Everyact, rite, and person engaged in them was symbolical ;and the individual revealing them was put to deathwithout mercy. So also was any uninitiated person whohappened to be present. Persons of all ages and bothsexes were initiated;and neglect in this respect, as inthe case of Socrates, was regarded as impious andatheistical. It was required of all candidates thattheyshould be firstadmitted at the Mik-ra or LesserMysteries of Agrae, by a process of fasting called purification, after which they were styled mystce, or initiates. A year later, they might enter the higher degree.In this they learned the aporrheta, or secret meaning ofthe rites, and were thenceforth denominated ephori, orepoptcB. To some of the interior mysteries, however,only a very select number obtained admission. Fromthese were taken all the ministers of holy rites. TheHierophant who presided was bound to celibacy, andrequiredto devote his entire life to his sacred office.* Atlantic Monthly, vol. iv. September, 1859.