Personal Experience Of The Divine

Question 1

Earliest and most famous example of a mystery cult

Answer 1

Eleusis

Question 2

What was unique about the Elusinian mysteries?

Answer 2

anybody could be initiated

Question 3

Greek word for secret

Answer 3

epopteia- revealed at the end of the initiation ie. offer of eternal life in the Eleusinian Fields

Question 4

Example of the penalty of sharing the secret of the initiates

Answer 4

Alcibiades convicted for mocking the mysteries- shows the importance of the festival itself and its status as a religious institution in Athens

Question 5

Origin of the Demeter/Persephone myth

Answer 5

Homeric hymn to Demeter

Question 6

Demeter’s connection to Eleusis

Answer 6

Disguised as a mortal, the goddess stayed at the palace of the king and queen of Eleusis- when they found out her true identity they built a temple in her honour. In return, she taught them the rites and initiatory rituals

Question 7

Two events for the mysteries

Answer 7

the ‘Lesser Mysteries’ in spring. Preparing for the ‘Great Mysteries in autumn over a period of 9 days

Question 8

How did initiates prepare?

Answer 8

fasting and drinking of a special brew (kykeon)- possibly some form of drug. Re-living of the myth of Demeter and Persephone

Question 9

Two most famous sanctuaries to Asclepius

Answer 9

Asclepion at Epidaurus- pilgrims seeking cure

Asclepion at Cos- school for physicians

Question 10

What happened when you visited a sanctuary of Asclepius?

Answer 10

preparatory bathing, sacrifices, sleeping in the stoa of the sanctuary (incubation) or under the open sky

Question 11

Example votive

Answer 11

leg votive- offering made by Tyche to Asclepius and his daughter Hygeia

Question 12

Example of another healing sanctuary

Answer 12

Amphiareion

Question 13

Example of journey question at Dodona

Answer 13

Ariston asks whether he should sail to Syracuse

Question 14

Example of children question at Dodona

Answer 14

Kleanor asks whether he should have children with his current wife

Question 15

Slave question at Dodona

Answer 15

Kittos asks if he’ll get freedom from Dionysus

Question 16

Events of the Eleusinian festival before they got to Eleusis

Answer 16

Assembles in the agora to be instructed by the archon basilius, marched to the seaside to undertake a purification ritual, had three days rest, re-assembled in the agora and processed to Eleusis during which they conducted ritual mocking of the old and worshipped other gods too like Aphrodite and Iacchus

Question 17

Events of the Eleusinian festival when at Eleusis

Answer 17

Not know exactly- fasting and drinking a special drink (possibly some kind of drug to experience a revelation) and a reliving of the myth of Demeter looking for Persephone

Question 18

What did Clinton think happened at the initiation?

Answer 18

Final acts might even involve blindfolding and then the sudden light of the Telestrion to simulate life after death

Question 19

The initiation Rose

Answer 19

‘initiates are not supposed to learn anything but rather to experience’

Question 20

Parke Dodona

Answer 20

‘Dodona’s claim to direct inspiration from Zeus was Delphi’s most important rival’