DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5674#0127
(ISO)
Those who were to be initiated in the mvsteries
were obliged first to perform certain ceremonies appointed
with a view of purifying the candidates. They were then
admitted to the little Mysteries or Protelia . Those , who
had palfed this first degree, were called initiated. Then in
the month of Boedromion, which nearly answers to our
month of September, they were initiated in the grand
Mysteries, but they were not permitted to see any of the
sacred obje&s, wich were only described to them by word
of mouth. After having received this instru&ion, they were
called Mystes. The Year following, or sometimes not until!
sive Years were expired, they were allowed to become
spe6tators of the great Mysteries, and then they were called
Ephores or Epoptes, that is to (ay, eye-witnesses.
The subjest of this plate appears to be the initiation
to the great Mysteries it is indicated by the two persons,
each having a branch in their hand, which according to
Suidas, the Mystes carried always when they attended the
Mysterious ceremonies of Bacchus {a}. The naked woman
is the perfcn admitted to the initiation; near her is the
ssower Lotus, the symbol of chastity. It was necessary for
them to have observed it rigorously for a determined number
of days, and to have submitted to various privations each
time they were desirous of arriving at one of the degrees of
initiation. The Cup she has in her hand contained, probably,
the Mystick liquor called Quiqueon. As to the looking-
glass which the Priestess holds, it denotes that in this second
initiation, the Mysteries of Bacchus were joined to those
of Ceres. The 59. Plate will shew that the looking-glass
marks the worship of a Goddess besides it is known by
very reipe&able authority ? that notwithstanding the disfe-
rences
(a) Suidas's diclionary , the word Bacchus.
Those who were to be initiated in the mvsteries
were obliged first to perform certain ceremonies appointed
with a view of purifying the candidates. They were then
admitted to the little Mysteries or Protelia . Those , who
had palfed this first degree, were called initiated. Then in
the month of Boedromion, which nearly answers to our
month of September, they were initiated in the grand
Mysteries, but they were not permitted to see any of the
sacred obje&s, wich were only described to them by word
of mouth. After having received this instru&ion, they were
called Mystes. The Year following, or sometimes not until!
sive Years were expired, they were allowed to become
spe6tators of the great Mysteries, and then they were called
Ephores or Epoptes, that is to (ay, eye-witnesses.
The subjest of this plate appears to be the initiation
to the great Mysteries it is indicated by the two persons,
each having a branch in their hand, which according to
Suidas, the Mystes carried always when they attended the
Mysterious ceremonies of Bacchus {a}. The naked woman
is the perfcn admitted to the initiation; near her is the
ssower Lotus, the symbol of chastity. It was necessary for
them to have observed it rigorously for a determined number
of days, and to have submitted to various privations each
time they were desirous of arriving at one of the degrees of
initiation. The Cup she has in her hand contained, probably,
the Mystick liquor called Quiqueon. As to the looking-
glass which the Priestess holds, it denotes that in this second
initiation, the Mysteries of Bacchus were joined to those
of Ceres. The 59. Plate will shew that the looking-glass
marks the worship of a Goddess besides it is known by
very reipe&able authority ? that notwithstanding the disfe-
rences
(a) Suidas's diclionary , the word Bacchus.