Mysteries
certain rites and ceremonies in ancient, chiefly Greek and Roman, religions, only known to and practiced by, congregations of certain initiated men and women, at appointed seasons, and in strict seclusion. origin, as well as the real purport of these mysteries, is all but unknown. The mysteries, as such, consisted of purifica- The tions, sacrificial offerings, processions, songs, dances, dramatic performances, etc. The most important mysteries were, in historical times, those of Eleusis and the Thesmophorian, both representing the rape of Proserpina, and Ceres' search for her: the Thesmophorian mysteries being also in a manner connected with the Dionysian worship. There were further those of Zeus of Crete (derived from a very remote period), of Bacchus himself, of Cybele, and Aphrodite the two latter with reference to the Mystery of Procreation, but celebrated in diametrically opposed ways, the former culminating in the self-mutilation of the worshiper, the latter in prostitution.
Eleusinian mysteries can be traced back to the 7th century B. C. In the time of Herodotus as many as 30,000 people attended them; and between 480-430 в. c., the period of Athens' highest power and of the Eleusinian mysteries' greatest fame, the number must have been much greater. Toward the end of the classical periods, the mysteries degenerated into the most shameless public orgies, and their days were numbered. 29