Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Demeters Torch and The Mysteries of Eleu

    Uploaded by

    Sandro Botticelli
    4 views3 pages

    Original Title

    Demeters Torch and the Mysteries of Eleu

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    4 views3 pages

    Demeters Torch and The Mysteries of Eleu

    Uploaded by

    Sandro Botticelli

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 3
    Demeter's Torch & The Mysteries of Eleusis by George L. Beke i (On ancient Greek coins, the ear Of grain that sustained mankind (our daily bread) often stood for the god- ess Demeter, and she also brought spiritual sustenance to mortals when the Mysteries were established at Eleusis, near Athens. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter recounts the founding myth of the Mysteries, and at the beginning we find Demeter carrying torches as she searches for her daughter Persephone, who has, been abducted by Hades (Death), the Figure 1-Lett: Coin of Menaion, Sicily (ca. 2% cent. BC). Obverse: Veiled head of Deme- ter. Feversa: Crossed torches. Right: Crossed torches at Eleusis. brother of Zeus. unique version of the Eleusinian toreh: in- “Then for nine days divine Deo tersecting branches [Demeter] roamed over the earth, atop a central staff, a holding torches ablaze in her figure now called the hands...” ‘cross torch’ (see Fig. 2), AtBleusis, the torches that Deme- “The cross torch of, ter carried would become the symbol _Eleusis is also found of humanity's search for what lies be- on red-figure vases of yond, All who spoke Greek were wel- south Italy that depict, ‘come to the Mysteries women, men, the abduction of Per- even slaves ~ and later all citizens of | sephone, with the the Roman Empire could receive ini- mother desperately tiation, as many Roman emperorsdid. searching for her ‘The Greek colonies of Magna daughter (sce Fig. 3 Graecia displayed a special fondness on page 16), dramatiz for the Eleusinian rites. In Sicily, Syr- ing the pivotal crisis acuse erected a temple to the Two ofthe Eleusinian Goddesses (mother and daughter), myth. while Menaion issued coins showing The Mysteries of Demeter and crossed torches, amotif _Eleusis also played Figure 2-Coins of Metapontum with the ear of grain of that would also be fotind at Eleusis out the connection Demeter. Top: helmeted head of Leukippos, founder of (ee Fig. 1) between Demeter Metapontum, cross torch at left (ea. 300 BC). Bottom: Ivy- Up on the Italian peninsula, the (bread) and Dionysos crowned head of Dionysos; on reverse, cross torch at right coins of Metapontum presented a (wine), as seen above (ca. 200 BC). on a coin of Metapontum (sce Fig. 2, bottom coin), and as expressed in Sophocles’ Antigone, written around 442 BC: “Thouwho dost rule over ltalia’s pride and at Eleusis in Deo's bosom wide & ddwellest, Deo, the Mother of all, catalogue on request Bacchos, Bacchos, on thee we call.” KIRK DAVIS The Lesser Mysteries were held at Classical Numismatics Agra (purportedly commemorating the death and resurrection of Dionysos) Post Office Box 324, Claremont, CA 91711 while the Greater Mysteries of Deme- Tel: (909) 625-8426 _kirk@ancientgreck.net, ies (cede eating [ie tet ct erae - 14 The Colator phone and the rebirth of Nature each year) took place at Eleusis, so that sup- plicants would have a chance to attend the lesser rites before rising to the higher level. Figure 3-Demeter brandishes the Elousinian ‘ross torch as she searches for her daughter (Apulian hydra, ca. 330 BC; NY Metropolitan ‘Museum of Art). ‘The Romans adopted much of the Greek culture of Magna Graecia, and the Mysteries would be captured on coins of the Roman Republic where on ‘one side we find Liber/ Bacchus (Dionysus), while on the reverse Ceres (Demeter) holds the torches that signify her cult at Eleusis (see Fig. 4). ‘The great jurist and statesman Cicero (who had been initiated at Elcusis) best character- ized the Roman attitude toward the Mysteries: “Among the many ‘excellent and divine in- stitutions that your Ath- ens has developed and contributed to human life, there is none, in my opinion, better than these mysteries, by which we have been brought forth from our rustic and sav- age mode of existence, cult vated and refined to a state of, civilization; and as these rites Edward J. Waddell, Ltd. Ancient Coin A P.O. Box 3759, Frederick, MD 21705 Phone: (301) 473-8600 + Fax: (301) 473-8716 16 The Celator snail Figure 4—The Eleusinian Mysteries on denarii of the Roman Republic. Top, obverse: Liber (Bac- ‘chus) wreathed in vy (Lesser Mysteries); reverse: Ceres in chariot drawn by serpents, carrying torch- 28 (Greater Mysteries). Bottom, obverse: Bacchus (vine); reverse: Cores with torches, behind a plough (grain). are called “initiations” so, in truth we have learned from them the first principles of life and have gained the understanding, not only to live happily, but also to die with better hope.” For that death with a “better hope” during tho Roman Empire, Augustus ‘was initiated at Eleusis in'31 BC, as ‘were many Inter emperors who often put Ceres on their coins (see Fig. 5 on page 18). "The empress Faustina received a wreath at Eleusis, as did her adopted son Marcus Aurelius, who would write the inspirational Meditations and who rebuilt the Temple of Demeter after it was sacked in 170 AD. Faustina was a fervent devotee of the Eleusinian Mys~ teries, with their promise of a blessed afterlife. When she passed away, An- toninus Pius had his wife deified (DIVA) and issued coins that testified to her hopes and beliefs (see Fig. 6 0n page 18). In Fig. 6, we find the deified Faus- tina greeted by Ceres holding ears of grain and a torch (symbols of the Elcusinian Mysteries), and we also see her welcomed to the divine abode by Ceres/Demeter holding a torch, with the legend CONSECRATIO above. ‘With this sequence, we witness the deep imprint that the Mysteries of Eleusis left upon Western civilization the promise of a beatific afterlife be- came a central tenet of Christianity, and Eleusinian symbol- ism would be invoked in the Gospels, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But ifit dies, it produces many seeds.” ~John 12: 24 “Iam the true vine," = John 15:1 With this ancient connection readily apparent, it would be difficult to admixe Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, of to at- tend Mass in a church, and not be re- minded of the Mys teries of Eleusis. Figure 5-Roman Imperial coins with Ceres on raverse, holding symbols of the Mysteries of Eleusis. Top: Dupon- _Abour the author— dlus of Claudius (ca. 50 AD). Middle: Denarius of Domitian George L. Beke is an (ca. 85 AD). Bottom: Sestertius of Hadrian (ca. 130 AD). independent re~ searcher and author, HMedieval Silver 9 Curious about medieval as a natural complement to your ancient collection, but don’t want to invest much until you know you like it? Then start small and painless. For every $9 you send, I'll send you a different medieval coin...$18 for 2 different, $36 for 4 different, $90 for 10 different, etc. With 12 different, get a free copy of Walker’s Reading Medieval European Coins. Please add $3 postage per order. AllenG.Berman “ei ":

    You might also like