1st Edition

Greek Mysteries The Archaeology of Ancient Greek Secret Cults

Edited By Michael B. Cosmopoulos Copyright 2003
    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    Written by an international team of acknowledged experts, this excellent book studies a wide range of contributions and showcases new research on the archaeology, ritual and history of Greek mystery cults.

    With a lack of written evidence that exists for the mysteries, archaeology has proved central to explaining their significance and this volume is key to understanding a phenomenon central to Greek religion and society.

    List of illustrations, List of contributors, Preface, Note on abbreviations and transliteration, 1 Mycenaean religion at Eleusis: the architecture and stratigraphy of Megaron, 2 Festival and Mysteries: aspects of the Eleusinian Cult, 3 Stages of initiation in the Eleusinian and Samothracian Mysteries, 4 “In the Sanctuary of the Samothracian Gods”: myth, politics, and mystery cult at Ilion, 5 Evolutions of a mystery cult: the Theban Kabiroi, 6 Mystery cults in Arcadia, 7 Trophonius of Lebadea: mystery aspects of an oracular cult in Boeotia, 8 Landscapes of Dionysos and Elysian Fields, 9 Orphic Mysteries and Dionysiac ritual, 10 Lesser Mysteries – not less mysterious, 11 Concluding remarks, Index

    Biography

    Michael B. Cosmopoulos

    'Its success lies in putting together a series of extremely interesting essays which represent the best introduction to their topic currently available.' - Antiquity