The fascinating Archaeological Museum of Athens is full of amazing pieces, from the various civilizations that inhabited the beautiful Mediterranean country and its domains.
One of them, a relief in conventional appearance, hides in its outlines some of the secrets of an ancient esoteric cult.The beautiful piece, dating from the V century. C., on its surface shows three figures-two women and a man-engraved on the stone.
The two female characters are identified with Demeter, goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone, while man corresponds to a youth named Triptolemus.
Apparently, the scene is nothing exceptional. However, the relief is showing nothing more or less, the first initiation into the Mysteries of Eleusis called.
Demeter and her daughter were the main characters in this cult, being linked with the idea of fertility and regeneration year, while the youth was, according to myth, one of the first initiated, the goddesses who transmitted the secrets of agriculture.
But what was this strange cult?
Both the period of classical Greece and in Roman times, the world experienced a singular beliefs through religious phenomenon of so-called mystery cults, sacred practices that stood out for its particular syncretism and the law of confidentiality to that had to be faithful.
These cults were characterized to include esoteric rites, with teachings that are revealed only to initiates, and the divinities that matched his followers offered salvation in the hereafter or material benefits in life.
Among these enigmatic cults such as those cited highlighted some Mysteries of Eleusis, which were held in the Greek town of the same name near Athens, or dedicated to the god Mithras, who enjoyed great success among the Roman legionaries.
Although historians today are well advanced in the study of these cults, many of the practices and beliefs that formed remain a mystery, especially since the law of confidentiality to the initiates undergoing and the scarcity text that is on some of them.
Fortunately, today you will find many pieces of art-as preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Athens, which provide a glimpse of those mysterious rites.
With respect to the Eleusinian mysteries, these were held twice per year: the 'Lesser Mysteries', which took place around March -' anthesterion'-and the 'Greater Mysteries', which were held in September - 'boedromion'.
In both cases, the cult began with a pilgrimage started from the Kerameikos to the sanctuary of Eleusis. The most important rites were held during which the 'Greater Mysteries'.
These began on 14 September with the pilgrimage from Athens. Two days later, participants were bathing in the bay of Eleusis. The next day followed the sacrifices and fasting, while games were held in honor of the gods.
Then on 20, in a ceremony attended by less people-only those who were to be initiated, took place about secret meetings held in the Telesterion, the great temple of Eleusis.
They are believed to be supplying some kind of psychotropic substances to the participants, they caused an altered state of consciousness that favored experimentation mystical experiences.
Some historians have suggested that the 'kykeon' ingested the substance that initiates, could include the ergot fungus, which can parasitize in some cereals, and has potent psychoactive effects.
Whether it was through this substance, or by revelations of the 'Epoptai'-literally, "men who have seen" - the highest-ranking priests of the 'mysteries', the truth is that those that started saying live a so shocking experience that changed his outlook on life.
The great secret might be, there is no certainty about it-in the disclosure of the existence of life after death.
In any case, what is clear is the importance they had these 'mysteries' in the religious life of some ancient Athenians, as witness the various archaeological and art-related Eleusinian cult which still remain.
