Book Excerpt - T Imagine that you were an ancient Athenian. It is autumn and this is a special day, for today the sacred procession will proceed along the Royal Road from Athens to Eleusis. You have decided to follow the procession to the holy city and undergo initiation in the Mysteries of Demeter. You rise from bed, dress in toga and sandals, eat a morning meal of cheese, olives, and bread. When this is done, you hurry out to the street. A crowd of hundreds has gathered and is heading in the direction of the Royal Road. You follow them. Thousands of Athenians line each side of the wide roadway, waiting for the deities to approach. Beyond the morning mist, you can see the four-wheeled carts approach, drawn by oxen or bulls. Slowly the brightly colored floats come forward. Leading the great parade is a cart driven by a handsome male figure wearing a tunic and winged hat and shoes. This is the psychopomp Hermes, the god who carries messages from gods to mortals and escorts the human soul after death, into the depths of the Netherworld. The people cheer and throw flowers in his path, for he will ensure that every initiate will descend to Hades to die and yet be reborn into a better life. The second cart approaches. It is the goddess Demeter, and it is her rites of initiation that are performed at Eleusis. She sits regally on a throne; the mother who fearlessly descends into the land of eternal darkness in order to retrieve her captive daughter. It is her life that the Mysteries portray. Following Demeter is a cart carrying the beautiful maiden Persephone, seated on a throne that is surrounded by a field of corn, as befits the goddess of vegetation. During the winter months, while she is queen of the Underground, ruling beside her husband Hades, Earth’s fields are barren and crops refuse to grow. However, in spring, when the maiden returns to earth, flowers bloom and there are fields of corn and wheat to feed her followers. Following close behind Persephone is the cart carrying the Lord of Death and Darkness. Pale, bearded Hades carries of staff of power and is always accompanied by his three-headed dog Cerberus. He is master over all dead souls. All mortals must eventually face him. His abode is a cave deep within the earth, a world of shadows and silence. The crowd shudders in fear at sight of him. Next comes the Hierophant, High Priest of the Eleusinian Mysteries. He will instruct and guide the initiates through the sacred ceremonies, preside over purification, and lead the mystes to the climax of rebirth. A handsome young man occupies the next float. He is playing the lyre. The song is mournful, for this is Orpheus who has lost his beloved Eurydice in the depths of Hades. Atop the next cart is a young man, riding in a winged chariot, adorned with golden serpents. He holds a bag of seeds, which he tosses to the cheering crowds. This is Triptolemus, son of the king of Eleusis. The first mortal to be taught the initiation rites, Triptolemus was initiated by Demeter herself. After his rebirth in the Underground chamber, Demeter and Persephone appointed him to be the sower of seeds: he was to travel the great skies, scattering seeds to ensure future growth and prosperity. He is the people’s savior and very much loved. The next cart holds the mightiest of all men, the half-man, half-god Hercules. He has traveled several times to the Underground, returning safely each time, giving hope that others may do the same The final cart arrives holding Hecate, the mystery goddess of witchcraft and magic. She raises two lighted torches, to guide the masses of Athenians who follow the holy caravan. As mistress of roads, she leads them to the holy city. Anxiously you have followed the procession, an all-day march, and now you have arrived at the cliff overlooking the Athens River. On the other side of the roaring river lies Eleusis. A narrow bridge connects the two sides -- a bridge so narrow that it is impossible for the processional floats to cross it. It is wide enough for only one man to cross at a time. The carts turn around and begin their trip back to Athens. You may join those who are returning to the city or you can cross the precipice, but once you step upon the bridge, there is no turning back.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 04:00:46 +0000