Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
0!He Ang
But , in the second place , they were kept secret from a necessity of teaching to the initiated some things which it would have been improper to have communicated to all . There were , in the judgment of those in authority , in these matters as in ordinary
public affairs , many truths which it would have been inconvenient both for them and for the state to have generally known , and many things which though false it was expedient that the people . should believe ( our readers will bear in mind that we are speaking of a system of heathen , worship ) ; and therefore the Greeks shut up their mysteries in the silence of their sacred enclosures .
Now to reconcile this seeming discrepancy , of supposing the mysteries to be instituted to invite the people to them , and at the same time to keep them from the people ' s knowledge , we must remember that they were for the most part divided into the two portions we have before mentioned , the ^ re ^^ r and the fes 5 er mysteries . The end of the lesser mysteries must be referred to the intention of
the hierophants to invite the people into them ; and of the greater , to their purpose of keeping some truths from the people ' s knowledge . Nor is this asserted without sufficient warrant ; antiquity is very express on this point . We are told that the lesser mysteries were only a kind of preparatory purification for the great ' er , and might be easily communicated to all . Four years was the least term of
probation for those greater mysteries , in which , as Clemens Alexandrinus informs us , the secrets were deposited , and to which comparatively few were admitted . As , however , it is very certain that one great object in the mysteries was the good of the state , it follows that the doctrines inculcated in both the greater and lesser mysteries were for the benefit of society—only with this difference , that without
inconvenience some might be taught promiscuously , others could not . On the whole , the secret in the lesser mysteries was some hidden rites and representations , to be kept from the open view of the people only to invite their curiosity ; and the secret in the greater , some hidden doctrines to be kept from the people ' s knowledge for the very contrary purpose ; while the public representations and processions which took place annually , served to renew from time to time that popular
excitement , so to speak , which was necessary for providing for the sacred rites a constant supply of new recipients ; and these shows and processions , which were common both to the greater and lesser mysteries , were only designed to engage attention , and raise devotion . The most celebrated of the Cabiriac mysteries , were those of
Samethrace , which , judging from those at Lemnos , which were similar to them in character , were solemnized every year , and lasted for nine days . The Cabiri themselves were certain deities held in the greatest veneration in Thebes , Lemnos , Macedonia ancl Phrygia , but more especially the islands of Imbros and Saniothrace . Their number is
uncertain , and according to some accounts , there were only two , viz ., Jupiter and Bacchus or Dionysus ; according to others , three , and others again mention four , viz . Aschieros , Achiochersa , Achciochersus
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
0!He Ang
But , in the second place , they were kept secret from a necessity of teaching to the initiated some things which it would have been improper to have communicated to all . There were , in the judgment of those in authority , in these matters as in ordinary
public affairs , many truths which it would have been inconvenient both for them and for the state to have generally known , and many things which though false it was expedient that the people . should believe ( our readers will bear in mind that we are speaking of a system of heathen , worship ) ; and therefore the Greeks shut up their mysteries in the silence of their sacred enclosures .
Now to reconcile this seeming discrepancy , of supposing the mysteries to be instituted to invite the people to them , and at the same time to keep them from the people ' s knowledge , we must remember that they were for the most part divided into the two portions we have before mentioned , the ^ re ^^ r and the fes 5 er mysteries . The end of the lesser mysteries must be referred to the intention of
the hierophants to invite the people into them ; and of the greater , to their purpose of keeping some truths from the people ' s knowledge . Nor is this asserted without sufficient warrant ; antiquity is very express on this point . We are told that the lesser mysteries were only a kind of preparatory purification for the great ' er , and might be easily communicated to all . Four years was the least term of
probation for those greater mysteries , in which , as Clemens Alexandrinus informs us , the secrets were deposited , and to which comparatively few were admitted . As , however , it is very certain that one great object in the mysteries was the good of the state , it follows that the doctrines inculcated in both the greater and lesser mysteries were for the benefit of society—only with this difference , that without
inconvenience some might be taught promiscuously , others could not . On the whole , the secret in the lesser mysteries was some hidden rites and representations , to be kept from the open view of the people only to invite their curiosity ; and the secret in the greater , some hidden doctrines to be kept from the people ' s knowledge for the very contrary purpose ; while the public representations and processions which took place annually , served to renew from time to time that popular
excitement , so to speak , which was necessary for providing for the sacred rites a constant supply of new recipients ; and these shows and processions , which were common both to the greater and lesser mysteries , were only designed to engage attention , and raise devotion . The most celebrated of the Cabiriac mysteries , were those of
Samethrace , which , judging from those at Lemnos , which were similar to them in character , were solemnized every year , and lasted for nine days . The Cabiri themselves were certain deities held in the greatest veneration in Thebes , Lemnos , Macedonia ancl Phrygia , but more especially the islands of Imbros and Saniothrace . Their number is
uncertain , and according to some accounts , there were only two , viz ., Jupiter and Bacchus or Dionysus ; according to others , three , and others again mention four , viz . Aschieros , Achiochersa , Achciochersus