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Demeter And Persephone Research Paper

1271 Words6 Pages

Kwanell Woodhouse
Mrs. O’prey
History 101
9 December 2014
“The Dignity of the Mysteries”
The Mysteries were a set of rituals performed every year by the cult of Demeter and Persephone to praise the two goddesses, Demeter the mother and Persephone the daughter. Hades took the daughter of Demeter and fellow goddess, Persephone, by planting a rare plant in front of her so she would pluck it. When she would pluck it he jumped out and dragged her to the under world, he made her his wife and eventually returned her to he mother. “Each year, when it was time for the crops to be sown, in the month of Boedromion (September), this was the time of year for the Mysteries to be held. It all stems from the myth of Demeter and Persephone, when Hades, took …show more content…

“When the procession reached Eleusis they would rest and make ready for the next day, which was a day of fasting (Demeter did this when in mourning for Persephone). Once this part of the ceremony was over, the initiates drank a special brew of barley water mixed with pennyroyal called, kykeon (a creeping mint cultivated for its supposed medicinal properties). The climax of the ceremony took place in the "Telesterion" (initiation hall).” This hsowed how important the traditions of the mysteries were and that the initiates were of high class and truly trusted with their role. Those who profaned the mysteries were dealt with appropriately although some got away with profanation such as Alcibiades. “During the 5th century BCE, "Ictinos" designed a huge hall which would hold several thousand people. In this hall, the secret and sacred objects were shown to the initiated, and also the priestesses would reveal the vision of the holy night, which is thought to have been a fire symbolizing life after death. These rituals were kept secret, shown only to the initiated, and it was totally forbidden to speak of them publicly.” This shows that it had the highest of honors in terms of rituals

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