ORACLES, MYSTERIES, FESTIVALS, AND NATIONAL GAMES OF THE EARLY GREEKS. SECTION I.-THE ORACLES. THE ORACLES of the Greeks, established in various localities, were The Oracles. dedicated to Heroes as well as to Gods; among the latter, the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi was most celebrated. From the foot of Parnassus, Delphi sloped forward in a semi- Position of circular declivity, a theatre moulded by Nature's mighty hand: the Delphi. Temple of Apollo stood at its summit. The shrine of Delphi was considered the centre of the earth, and was marked by an elliptical stone. Hard by was the oracular chasm, whence arose the prophetic vapour, believed to issue from the well of Cassotis. In the inner most sanctuary of the god, opposite to the golden statue of Apollo, The Pythia. the eternal fire burnt upon the altar. Apollo, led into the temple by the prophetess, took her place over the chasm, seated upon a high tripod, where, affected by the fumes of the ascending smoke, she uttered incoherent sounds, which were considered to be the revelations of Apollo. These were carefully noted by the prophetess, and then communicated to the applicants. After once entering on the sacerdotal duties of the god, the Pythia was The Pythia never allowed to marry. A single unmarried. Days for consulting the Oracle. Fees. The Pythia, or Priestess of numerous, certain days in each were set apart. The order of consultation was determined by lot, excepting in the case of those who had received the right of the πроμаvτéα, or first prophecy." Payment of Those who consulted the Oracle, in addition to the sacrifice of an ox, sheep, or goat, had to pay a stated fee, excepting when the consultation was "tribute free"-åreλeía. After bathing in the Castalian spring, and fasting for three days, the Pythia, attired in the most simple vestments, ascended the sacred tripod. The oracular answers were in a metrical form, and usually in the Ionic dialect, though, after the time of Theopompus, prose was substituted, and the Doric dialect as spoken at Delphi. To Number of superintend the Oracle, there were five priests taken from five aristocratic families of Delphi, who traced their origin to Deucalion. These "Holy men" (ooo) held their offices for life, managing and controlling the sacrificial arrangements and the affairs of the sanctuary. The early fondness of the Greeks for supporting legend by etymology, which we have already noticed, is observable in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, which derives the name Pytho, Eurip. Ion, 422. Priests. 1 Diod. xvi. 26. from the serpent slain by Apollo, which he left there to rot (πύθεσθαι). the prophetic power of the locality. The prophetic power of this particular locality in Delphi was Discovery of discovered, it is said, by some shepherds, whose sheep, having approached this spot, were thrown into convulsions, while individuals who visited the hallowed chasm were gifted with the power of prophecy, a discovery of such importance as to cause the building of the Temple. Influence of the Delphic oracle. Though the ambiguity of the Delphic Oracle was repulsive, it is certain that, in its best days, it exercised a more powerful sway than any other religious institution of antiquity. Politics, religion, public and private life, the founding of colonies, and disputes between these and the metropolis, were referred to the decision of the Oracle, whose answers always tended to promote the maintenance and increase of religious establishments. Its influence rapidly declined with the Athenians in the Peloponnesian Declines, and war, when its partiality to Sparta became evident. It continued to subsist, however, till the time of Theodosius, when it was entirely abolished.3 is abolished. SECTION II.-THE MYSTERIES. 4 Eleusinian The influence of mythological legend, powerful in the Oracle, was Mysteries. not less powerful in the MYSTERIES of Hellas, particularly in those of Eleusis, the holiest and most venerable. Their origin is a subject of Origin of the tradition, so varied, that we shall not venture to touch upon it. Mysteries. Their extreme antiquity is certain. We learn from Thucydides, that in the reign of Erectheus, the Eleusinians, being defeated by the Athenians, yielded to their supremacy, with the exception of the Mysteries (TEXεrá). The descendants of Eumolpus, the Ceryces, and the daughters of Celeus, King of Eleusis, were, therefore, continued in the superintendence of the sacred rites. The Eleusinian 1 Plut. de Def. Orac. chap. xxii. 2 Plut. Dem. 20. The other oracles of Apollo were, 1st, at Aboe, in Phocis; 2nd, Ismenion, in Baotia; 3rd, at Hysia, on the Attic frontiers; 4th, on the hill Ptoos, in the Theban territory; 5th, in the Lyceum at Argos; 6th, at Tegæa, in Boeotia; 7th, at Orobia, in Euboea; 8th, on the Acropolis of Argos; 9th, Oracle of the Branchydæ; 10th, of Eutresis, near Leuctra; 11th, at Claros, in the Colophonian territory; 12th, at Grynæa, in the territory of the Myrinæans; 13th, at Abdera; 14th, of Apollo Gounapaæus, in Lesbos; 15th, the Sarpedonian Apollo, in Lycia; 16th, at Telmessus; 17th, in Delos; 18th, at Patara; 19th, at Mallos, in Cilicia; 20th, at Hybla, in Caria; 21st, at Hiera Come, on the Mæander. 4 ii. 15. Greater and Mysteries were divided into the Greater and Lesser; into the latte any Greek might be initiated. They were celebrated annually in th month Anthesterion; and the initiated, who were styled Mystæ, ha 1 to undergo the probation of a year previous to an admission to the Greater Mysteries. The Mystagogus, or superintendent of sacred rites, administered to them an oath of secrecy, communicating likewise instructions calculated to convey a more easy comprehension of When held. the Great Eleusinian Mysteries. These were held annually in the month Boëdromion, during nine successive days (from the 15th to the 23rd). On the opening day, vast crowds of foreigners thronged into Athens, to witness this grand national solemnity, where also the communicants of the Lesser Eleusinia had assembled. The second day was specially set apart for purification; and, accordingly, the solemn procession repaired to the sea-coast, where this introOrder of the ductory rite was performed.5 This was succeeded by a day of fasting, towards the evening of which the initiated partook of a slender meal, consisting of cakes of sesame and honey. On the fourth day ensued a grand procession, in which a basket, containing poppy seeds and pomegranates, was carried on a waggon, followed by women The fifth day. holding small mystic cases. The fifth, or torch-day, was one of much importance. Headed by the Aadouxos, or chief torch-bearer, the procession with flaming torches repaired in the evening to the temple of Demeter at Eleusis. The initiated, clad in purple robes, and decked with crowns of myrtle, passed through the southern portico in pairs conducted by the priests. The sixth day was ushered in by a grand procession carrying the statue of Iakchus, the son of Demeter. On the brows of the statue rested a garland of myrtle; a Mysteries. The sixth day. 1 End of February and beginning of March. 6 Ἡ τῶν λαμπάδων ἡμέρα. 2 Προφήτης, οι Ιεροφαντής. 5 Polyæm. iii. 11. noviciates. torch was in his hand; while the sacred road, thronged by multitudes of spectators, re-echoed with songs and shouts of joy. We shall here avail ourselves of the eloquent description by a celebrated classical scholar of the close of this august ceremony. "The initiated The were admitted for the first time to the full enjoyment of the admission of privileges which the mysteries conferred. Having gone through the previous rites of fasting and of purification, they were clad in the sacred fawn-skin, and led at eventide into the sacred vestibule of the Temple. The doors of the building itself were as yet closed. Then the profane were commanded by the priests with a loud voice to retire. The worshippers remained alone. Presently strange sounds Visions seen. were heard; dreadful apparitions as of dying men were seen; lightnings flashed through the thick darkness in which they were enveloped, and thunders rolled around them; light and gloom succeeded each other with rapid interchange. After these preliminaries, at length the doors of the Temple were thrown open. shone with one blaze of light. The votaries were then led to the the Temple. feet of the statue of the goddess, who was clad in the most gorgeous attire; in her presence their temples were encircled by the hands of Its interior View of the interior of revelations the priests with the sacred wreath of myrtle, which was intended to Emblematic direct their thoughts to the myrtle groves of the blessed in those worship. happy isles to which they would be carried after death; their eyes were dazzled with the most beautiful and vivid colours, and their ears charmed with the most melodious sounds, both rendered more enchanting by their contrast with those fearful and ghastly objects, which had just before been offered to their senses. They were now admitted to behold visions of the Creation of the Universe, to see the workings of that divine agency, by which the machine of the world was regulated and controlled, to contemplate the state of society Typical which prevailed upon the earth before the visit of Ceres to Attica, and to witness the introduction of agriculture, of sound laws and of gentle manners, which followed the steps of that goddess; to recognise the immortality of the soul, as typified by the concealment of corn sown in the earth, by its revival in the green blade, and by its full ripeness in the golden harvest; or as the same idea was otherwise expressed of religious by the abduction of Proserpine, the daughter of Ceres, to the regions mysteries. of darkness, in order that she might pass six months beneath the earth, and then arise again to spend an equal time in the realms of light and joy. Above all, they were invited to view the spectacle of that happy state, in which they themselves, the initiated, were to exist hereafter. These revelations contained the greatest happiness to which man could aspire in this life, and assured him of such bliss as nothing could exceed or diminish in the next." 1 Wordsworth's Pictorial Greece, p. 83. * The ninth and last day was called ranpexówi, from a peculiar species of vessel so called. These were filled with wine or water; thrown from one towards the east, from the other towards the west. |