Classical Myth & Mysteries 1

Plato

fromThomassin's Recueil des Figures, Groupes, Thermes, Fontaines, Vases et autres OrnementsPlato's real name was Aristocles. When his father brought him to study with Socrates, the great Skeptic declared that on the previous night he had dreamed of a white swan, which was an omen that his new disciple was to become one of the world's illumined. There is [also] a tradition that the immortal Plato was sold as a slave by the King of Sicily. MPH

Æneas at the Gate of Hell

From Virgil's Aeneid (Dryden's translation)Virgil describes part of the ritual of a Greek Mystery in his account of the descent of Aeneas to the gate of hell under the guidance of the Sibyl. Of that part of the ritual portrayed above the immortal poet writes: "Full in the midst of this infernal Road, An Elm displays her dusky Arms abroad; The God of Sleep there hides his heavy Head And empty Dreams on ev'ry Leaf are spread. Of various Forms, unnumber'd Specters more; Centaurs, and double Shapes, besiege the Door: Before the Passage horrid Hydra stands, And Briareus with all his hundred Hands: Gorgons, Geryon with his triple Frame; And vain Chimaera vomits empty Flame. The Chief unsheath'd his shining Steel, prepar'd Tho seiz'd with sudden Fear, to force the Guard. Off'ring his brandish'd Weapon at their Face; Had not the Sibyl stop'd his eager Pace, And told him what those empty Phantoms were; Forms without Bodies, and impassive Air." MPH

The Ptolemaic Scheme of the Universe

From Montfaucon’s AntiquitiesIn ridiculing the geocentric system of astronomy expounded by Claudius Ptolemy, modern astronomers have overlooked the philosophic key to the Ptolemaic system. The universe of Ptolemy is a diagram of the relationships existing between the various divine and elemental parts of every creature, and is not concerned with astronomy as that science is now comprehended. In the above figure, special attention is called to the three circles of zodiacs surrounding the orbits of the planets. These zodiacs represent the threefold spiritual constitution of the universe. The orbits of the planets are the Governors of the World and the four elemental spheres in the center represent the physical constitution of both man and the universe. Ptolemy's scheme of the universe is a cross section of the universal aura, the planets and elements to which he refers having no relation to those recognized by modern astronomers. MPH

The Microcosm

From Bryant's An Analysis of Ancient MythologyThe ancient symbol of the Orphic Mysteries was the serpent-entwined egg, which signified Cosmos as encircled by the fiery Creative Spirit. The egg also represents the soul of the philosopher; the serpent, the Mysteries. At the time of initiation the shell is broken and man emerges from the embryonic state of physical existence wherein he had remained through the fetal period of philosophic regeneration. MPH

A Female Hierophant of the Mysteries

From Montfaucon's AntiquitiesThis illustration show Cybele, here called the Syrian Goddess, in the robes of a hierophant. Montfaucon describes the figure as follows: "Upon her head is an episcopal mitre, adorned on the lower part with towers and pinnacles; over the gate of the city a crescent, and beneath the circuit of the walls a crown of rays. The Goddess wears a sort of surplice exactly like the surplice of a priest or bishop; and upon the surplice a tunic, which falls down to the legs; and over all an episcopal cope, with the twelve signs of the Zodiac wrought on the borders. The figure hath a lion on each side, and holds in its left hand a Tympanum, a Sistrum, a Distaff, a Caduceus, and another instrument. In her right hand she holds with her middle finger a thunderbolt, and upon the same arm animals, insects, and, as far as we may guess, flowers and fruit, a bow, a quiver, a torch, and a scythe." The whereabouts of the statue is unknown, the copy reproduced by Montfaucon being from drawings by Pirro Ligorio. MPH

Mithras Slaying the Bull

From Lundy's Monumental ChristianityThis relief [prototokos] shows Mithras kneeling upon the recumbent form of a great bull, into whose throat he is driving a sword. The slaying of the bull signifies that the rays of the sun, symbolized by the sword, release at the vernal equinox the vital essences of the earth—the blood of the bull—which, pouring from the wound made by the Sun God, fertilize the seeds of living things. Dogs were held sacred to the cult of Mithras, being symbolic of sincerity and trustworthiness. The Mithraics used the serpent as an emblem of Ahriman, the Spirit of Evil. The bull is the Constellation of Taurus; the serpent, its opposite in the zodiac, Scorpio. MPH

The Birth of Mithras

From Montfaucon's AntiquitiesMithras was born out of a rock, which, breaking open, permitted him to emerge. This occurred in the darkness of a subterranean chamber. The Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem confirms the theory that Jesus was born in a grotto, or cave. According to Dupuis, Mithras was put to death by crucifixion and rose again on the third day. MPH

The Lion-Faced Light-Power

From Montfaucon's AntiquitiesThis Gnostic gem represents by its serpentine body the pathway of the Sun and by its lion head the exaltation of the solar orb in the Constellation of Leo. MPH

A Symbolic Labyrinth

From Montfaucon's AntiquitiesLabyrinths and mazes were favored places of initiation among many ancient cults. Remains of these mystic mazes have been found among the American Indians, Hindus, Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks. Some of these mazes are merely involved pathways lined with stones; others are literally miles of gloomy caverns under temples or hollowed from the sides of mountains. The famous labyrinth of Crete, in which roamed the bull-headed Minotaur, was unquestionably a place of initiation into the Cretan Mysteries. MPH

The Alexandrian Serapis

From Mosaize Historie der Hebreeuwse KerkeSerapis is often shown standing on the back of the sacred crocodile, carrying in his left hand a rule with which to measure the inundations of the Nile, and balancing with his right hand a curious emblem consisting of an animal with three heads. The first head—that of a lion—signified the present; the second head—that of a wolf—the past; and the third head—that of a dog—the future. The body with its three heads was enveloped by the twisted coils of a serpent. MPH

The Rape of Persephone

From Thomassin's Recueil des Figures, Groupes, Thermes, Fontaines, Vases et autres OrnementsIn his Disquisitions upon the Painted Greek Vases, James Christie presents Meursius' version of the occurrences taking place during the nine days required for the enactment of the Greater Eleusinian Rites. The 1st day was that of general meeting, during which those to be initiated were questioned concerning their several qualifications. The 2nd day was spent in a procession to the sea, possibly for the submerging of an image of the presiding goddess. The 3rd day was opened by the sacrifice of a mullet. On the 4th day the mystic basket containing certain sacred symbols was brought to Eleusis, accompanied by a number of female devotees carrying smaller baskets. On the evening of the 5th day there was a torch race, on the 6th a procession led by a statue of Iacchus, and on the 7th an athletic contest. The 8th day was devoted to a repetition of the previous ceremonial for the benefit of any who might have been prevented from attending sooner. The 9th and last day was devoted to the deepest philosophical issues of the Eleusinia, during which an urn or jar—the symbol of Bacchus—was exhibited as an emblem of supreme importance. MPH

Ceres, Patron of the Mysteries

From a mural painting in PompeiiCeres, or Demeter, was the daughter of Kronos and Rhea, and by Zeus the mother of Persephone. Some believe her to be the goddess of the earth, but more correctly she is the deity protecting agriculture in general and corn in particular. The poppy is sacred to Ceres and she is often shown carrying or ornamented by a garland of these flowers. In the Mysteries, Ceres is represented riding in a chariot drawn by winged serpents. MPH

The Processional of the Bacchic Rites

From Ovid's MetamorphosisIn the initiation of the Bacchic Mysteries, the role of Bacchus is played by the candidate who, set upon by priests in the guise of the Titans, is slain and finally restored to life amidst great rejoicing. The Bacchic Mysteries were given every three years, and like the Eleusinian Mysteries, were divided into two degrees. The initiates were crowned with myrtle and ivy, plants which were sacred to Bacchus.

In the Anacalypsis, Godfrey Higgins conclusively establishes Bacchus (Dionysos) as one of the early pagan forms of the Christos myth: "The birthplace of Bacchus, called Sabazius or Sabaoth, was claimed by several places in Greece; but on Mount Zelmisus, in Thrace, his worship seems to have been chiefly celebrated. He was born of a virgin on the 25th of December; he performed great miracles for the good of mankind; particularly one in which he changed water into wine; he rode in a triumphal procession on an ass; he was put to death by the Titans, and rose again from the dead on the 25th of March: he was always called the Saviour. In his mysteries, he was shown to the people, as an infant is by the Christians at this day, on Christmas Day morning in Rome."

At one time the Bacchic Rites were of a high order, but later they became much degraded. The Bacchanalia, or orgies of Bacchus, are famous in literature. MPH

The Scheme of the Universe according to the Greeks and Romans

From Cartari’s Imagini degli Dei degli AntichiBy ascending successively through the fiery sphere of Hades, the spheres of water, earth, and air, and the heavens of the moon, the plane of Mercury is reached. Above Mercury are the planes of Venus, the sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the latter containing the symbols of the zodiacal constellations. Above the arch of the heavens (Saturn) is the dwelling place of the different powers controlling the universe. The supreme council of the gods is composed of twelve deities—six male and six female—which correspond to the positive and negative signs of the zodiac. The six gods are Jupiter, Vulcan, Apollo, Mars, Neptune, and Mercury; the six goddesses are Juno, Ceres, Vesta, Minerva, Venus, and Diana. Jupiter rides his eagle as the symbol of his sovereignty over the world, and Juno is seated upon a peacock, the proper symbol of her haughtiness and glory. MPH

The Great God Pan

From Kircher’s OEdipus AEgyptiacusThe great god Pan was celebrated as the author and director of the sacred dances which he is supposed to have instituted to symbolize the circumambulations of the heavenly bodies. Pan was a composite creature, the upper part—with the exception of his horns—being human, and the lower part in the form of a goat. Pan is the prototype of natural energy and, while undoubtedly a phallic deity, should not be confused with Priapus. The pipes of Pan signify the natural harmony of the spheres, and the god himself is a symbol of Saturn because this planet is enthroned in Capricorn, whose emblem is a goat. The Egyptians were initiated into the Mysteries of Pan, who was regarded as a phase of Jupiter, the Demirugus. Pan represented the impregnating power of the sun and was the chief of a horde of rustic deities, panes, fauns, and satyrs. He also signified the controlling spirit of the lower worlds. MPH