Initiation into the Mysteries of the Ancient World (Munchner Vorlesungen Zu Antiken Welten) (Münchner Vorlesungen Zu Antiken Welten)

This book explores ancient mystery cults and their influence on emerging Christianity. The author discusses the famous Eleusian Mysteries as well as smaller and lesser-known Greek and Roman mysteries, offering an indispensable in-depth analysis of this fascinating phenomenon. The ancient Mysteries have long attracted the interest of scholars, an interest that goes back at least to the time of the Reformation. After a period of interest around the turn of the twentieth century, recent decades have seen an important study of Walter Burkert (1987). Yet his thematic approach makes it hard to see how the actual initiation into the Mysteries took place. To do precisely that is the aim of this book. It gives a ‘thick description'of the major Mysteries, not only of the famous Eleusinian Mysteries, but also those located at the interface of Greece and Anatolia: the Mysteries of Samothrace, Imbros and Lemnos as well as those of the Corybants. It then proceeds to look at the Orphic-Bacchic Mysteries, which have become increasingly better understood due to the many discoveries of new texts in the recent times. Having looked at classical Greece we move on to the Roman Empire, where we study not only the lesser Mysteries, which we know especially from Pausanias, but also the new ones of Isis and Mithras. We conclude our book with a discussion of the possible influence of the Mysteries on emerging Christianity. Its detailed references and up-to-date bibliography will make this book indispensable for any scholar interested in the Mysteries and ancient religion, but also for those scholars who work on initiation or esoteric rituals, which were often inspired by the ancient Mysteries. The ancient Mysteries have long attracted the interest of scholars, an interest that goes back at least to the time of the Reformation. After a period of interest around the turn of the twentieth century, recent decades have seen an important study of Walter Burkert (1987). Yet his thematic approach makes it hard to see how the actual initiation into the Mysteries took place. To do precisely that is the aim of this book. It gives a 'thick description' of the major Mysteries, not only of the famous Eleusinian Mysteries, but also those located at the interface of Greece and the Mysteries of Samothrace, Imbros and Lemnos as well as those of the Corybants. It then proceeds to look at the Orphic-Bacchic Mysteries, which have become increasingly better understood due to the many discoveries of new texts in the recent times. Having looked at classical Greece we move on to the Roman Empire, where we study not only the lesser Mysteries, which we know especially from Pausanias, but also the new ones of Isis and Mithras. We conclude our book with a discussion of the possible influence of the Mysteries on emerging Christianity. Its detailed references and up-to-date bibliography will make this book indispensable for any scholar interested in the Mysteries and ancient religion, but also for those scholars who work on initiation or esoteric rituals, which were often inspired by the ancient Mysteries. Initiation Into The Eleusinian Mysteries : A Thin Description -- Mysteries At The Interface Of Greece And Anatolia : Samothracian Gods, Kabeiroi And Korybantes -- Orpheus, Orphism And Orphic-bacchic Mysteries -- Greek Mysteries In Roman Times -- The Mysteries Of Isis And Mithras -- Did The Mysteries Influence Early Christianity? -- Appendix 1. Demeter And Eleusis In Megara -- Appendix 2. The Golden Bough : Orphic, Eleusinian And Hellenistic-jewish Sources Of Virgil's Underworld In Aeneid Vi. Jan N. Bremmer. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 205-242) And Index. I Initiation into the Eleusinian Mysteries: A ‘Thin’ Description II Mysteries at the Interface of Greece and Anatolia: Samothracian Gods, Kabeiroi and Korybantes III Orpheus, Orphism and Orphic-Bacchic Mysteries IV Greek Mysteries in Roman Times V The Mysteries of Isis and Mithras VI Did the Mysteries Influence Early Christianity? Appendix 1: Demeter and Eleusis in Megara Appendix 2: The Golden Bough: Orphic, Eleusinian and Hellenistic-Jewish Sources of Virgil’s Underworld in Aeneid VI