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personal experience of the divine - Coggle Diagram
personal experience of the divine
mystery cults
mysteries could be held as a public festival in cities
the initiates had to make a conscious decision to undergo a ceremonial initiation into the cult whilst keeping details of the ceremony private
the initiation included a ritual cleaning and fasting, and an individual experience that ended with the revelation of the secret (epopteia)
eleusinian mysteries
anybody could be inititated
every participant able to pay a contribution could take part in an individual initiation
the initiates were not allowed to speak about what happened, in particular the revelation of the secret
revealing the secret could result in the death penalty
demeter and persephone are the patron dieties of the mysteries
the telesterion was renovated and enlarged several times to reach the currently still visible version
the festival and procession
the lesser mysteries were celebrated in spring, and the greater mysteries were held over 9 days in autumn
on the first day, over 3000 people assembled in the athenian agora
the next day, the whole group and the sacrificial animals were bathed in a purification ritual, followed by three days of rest
on the fourth day, the group gathered and walked a procession for 15 miles to eleusis
healing cult of asclepius
asclepius, the son of Apollo and a mortal woman was worshipped as a hero
popularity explained by his nature as a healer
the asclepion at epidaurus was a centre for pilgrims seeking cures for illnesses
the sanctuary of asclepius on the island of cos was a school for physicians
incubation
patients had to sleep in the shrine of asclepius, and could be cured immediately through a dream, or through a surgery or prescription given by asclepius in the dream
snakes of asclepius were kept at the sanctuary, as their poison apparently healed several illnesses
people often gave votive offering to asclepius thanking him of healing them
miracles
miraculous deeds performed by the gods were common
miracles were often recorded in votive inscriptions
oracle at dodona
the oldest oracular sanctuary in Greece
oracular responses came from leaves rustling on the tree, or doves sitting on it
from the 5th century onwards, the enquirer scratched his question onto a lead tablet to be answered by the oracle
individual concerns often consisted of which god to pray to
the largest category for questions at dodona were on travelling and moving places
some questions on marriage and children are asked, such as marrying certain women
slaves often asked about their freedom