Greek State Mysteries Flashcards
(6 cards)
1
Q
what is mysteria?
A
- Greek noun used for annual festival in Eleusis celebrating Demeter & Persephone
- denotes the secretive rites/practiced associated w/ this celebration
- later used for rites/practices in other cults that shared similarities w/ Eleusinian Mystēria
2
Q
what were mystery religions?
A
- secretive cults which give hope for/reduce fear of the afterlife
- allow initiates to live eternally in communication w/ the gods
- secretive → not supposed to know what was said/done unless initiated
- restrictive → had to have enough money & time to participate
- could only participate 1-2 times
had to buy a pig to sacrifice for initiation
3
Q
what were the Eleusinian Mysteries?
A
- first-grade initiates (mystai) partook in sacred drama blindfolded at night
- second-grade initiates (epoptes) sometimes served as guides for blindfolded mystai
- afterlife thought to be made 3x better for initiates
- supervised by the Eumolpidae & Kerykes (noble Athenian families)
4
Q
what were the 3 characteristics of the Eleusinian Cult?
A
- ta dromena (things done): the sacred drama/theatrical performance
- ta deiknumena (things shown): two sacred objects that represent Demeter & Persephone
- ta legomena (things said): less known about this
5
Q
who was Orpheus?
A
- Thracian king
- son of one of the Muses (& either Apollo or Hermes)
- failed to rescue wife Eurydice from Underworld (died from snake bite at their wedding)
- killed by Dionysos for believing Apollo was the greatest of the gods (both were from Thrace & into music/art)
6
Q
what were the Orphic mysteries?
A
- mystery religion based on the teachings & stories attributed to Orpheus
- run by private groups, not the state
- rules: no lying, eating meat, drinking wine, or eating beans
- Dionysos (Zagreus – son of Zeus & Persephone) as the central god
- religious concepts of sin, immortality, resurrection, life after death, reward, & punishment
