The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries

sacred fig-tree—all sacred, note, from Eleusinian associations—where the procession rests, and then moves on to the bridge over the river Cephissus. There it rests again, and the expression of the wildest grief gives place to a trifling farce, just as Demeter, in the midst of her sorrow, smiled at the levity of Iambé in the palace of Celeus. Through the ‘mystical entrance’ we enter Eleusis. On the seventh day, games are celebrated; the victor is given a measure of barley, as if it were a gift directly from the hand of the goddess. The eighth day is sacred to Æsculapius, the Divine Physician, who heals all diseases; in the evening, the initiatory ritual is performed.

“Let us enter the mystic temple and be initiated—though it must be assumed that, a year ago, we were initiated into the Lesser Mysteries at Agræ. We must have been mystæ (veiled) before we can become epoptæ (seers). In plain English, we must have shut our eyes to all else before we can behold the mysteries. Crowned with myrtle, we enter with the other initiates into the vestibule of the temple—blind as yet, but the Hierophant within will soon open our eyes.

“But first—for we must do nothing rashly—we must wash in this holy water; for it is with pure hands and a pure heart that we are bidden to enter the most sacred enclosure [mustikos sekos]. Then, led into the presence of the Hierophant,

In Oriental countries, the term Peter (an interpreter) appears to have been the title of this personage.