Mystery Religion of Cybele and Attis

Mystery Religion of Cybele and Attis

A relief from an altar associated with the mystery religion of Cybele and Attis. The relief shows Cybele enthroned, with her hand resting on the shoulder of Attis.

GREEK MYSTERIES

These mystery cults were native to Greece and foundational to all other mystery religions.

Eleusinian. The Eleusinian mysteries were among the oldest and most famous of the Greek mysteries. Initiates went to Eleusis, near Athens, to celebrate the fertility cult of Demeter (the Greek grain-goddess). Demeter was thought to provide abundant crops and a prosperous afterlife for her initiates.

Andanian. Andania was in the southwestern Peloponnese, and its mysteries were dedicated to Demeter, Hermes, Apollo, and others. The Rule of the Andanian Mysteries is an inscription outlining some of the public features of the religion, which included oath taking, wearing special clothing, chanting, singing, sacrifices, a processional, and a sacred banquet.

Cabiri. These deities were worshiped in several locations around the Aegean Sea. In general, the Cab

Longman, Tremper, III, Peter Enns, and Mark Strauss, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary 2013 : 1185–1186. Print.