The mysteries of Artemis of Ephesos : cult, polis, and change in the Graeco-Roman world

Artemis of Ephesos was one of the most widely worshiped deities of the Graeco-Roman World. Her temple, the Artemision, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and for more than half a millennium people flocked to Ephesos to learn the great secret of the mysteries and sacrifices that were celebrated every year on her birthday. In this work Guy MacLean Rogers sets out the evidence for the celebration of Artemis's mysteries against the background of the remarkable urban development of the city during the Roman Empire and then proposes an entirely new theory about the great secret that was revealed to initiates into Artemis's mysteries. The revelation of that secret helps to explain not only the success of Artemis's cult and polytheism itself but, more surprisingly, the demise of both and the success of Christianity. Contrary to many anthropological and scientific theories, the history of polytheism, including the celebration of Artemis's mysteries, is best understood as a Darwinian tale of adaptation, competition, and change.

Artemis of Ephesos was one of the most widely worshiped deities of the Graeco-Roman World. Her temple, the Artemision, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and for more than half a millennium people flocked to Ephesos to learn the great secret of the mysteries and sacrifices that were celebrated every year on her birthday.

In this work Guy MacLean Rogers sets out the evidence for the celebration of Artemis's mysteries against the background of the remarkable urban development of the city during the Roman Empire and then proposes an entirely new theory about the great secret that was revealed to initiates into Artemis's mysteries. The revelation of that secret helps to explain not only the success of Artemis's cult and polytheism itself but, more surprisingly, the demise of both and the success of Christianity. Contrary to many anthropological and scientific theories, the history of polytheism, including the celebration of Artemis's mysteries, is best understood as a Darwinian tale of adaptation, competition, and change.

Contents 7 Preface: Anathema 9 Maps 13 PART I: Muesis-Initiation 29 CHAPTER 1. Continuity in Change 29 CHAPTER 2. Funeral Games 59 CHAPTER 3. Mysteries and Sacrifices 87 PART II: Teletai-Rites 117 CHAPTER 4. Mystic Sacrifices 117 CHAPTER 5. Kouretes eusebeis 148 CHAPTER 6. Kouretes eusebeis kai philosebastoi 171 CHAPTER 7. Kouretes eusebeis kai philosebastoi kai bouleutai 197 CHAPTER 8. “The Nurse of Its Own Ephesian God” 231 CHAPTER 9. “Our Common Salvation” 256 PART III: Epopteia-Viewing 285 CHAPTER 10. Cult, Polis, and Change in the Graeco- Roman World 285 Appendix 1. The Other Mystery Cults of the Polis 319 Appendix 2. Cults of the Prytaneion 329 Appendix 3. Chronological Chart of Kouretes 335 Appendix 4. Chart of Mysteries and Change 337 Abbreviations 339 Notes 341 Glossary 463 Select Modern Bibliography 467 In this work, the author sets out the evidence for the celebration of Artemis's mysteries against the background of the remarkable urban development of the city of Ephesos during the Roman Empire and then proposes an entirely new theory about the great secret that was revealed to initiates into Artemis's mysteries