
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The Secret Sacred explores the hidden religious practices of the classical world. These cults, shrouded in secrecy, promised initiates a transformative afterlife. While many rituals remain mysterious, artworks and historical texts provide glimpses of their underlying beliefs.
The book examines Greco-Roman religious traditions and their divergence into mystery cults, including Bacchic ceremonies depicted in frescoes, Orphic gold tablets guiding souls in the underworld and the Eleusinian Mysteries celebrating Demeter and Persephone's cycle of rebirth. Eastern deities like Mithras, Isis and Cybele also feature in the cults discussed. The possible influence of mystery religions on early Christianity is also explored, drawing parallels with modern-day beliefs. Featuring the most recent archaeological discoveries and stunning museum artefacts, this is a lively account of the concealed faiths of the ancient world.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Front Cover
- Half-Title Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- One What is a Mystery Religion?
- Two Demeter, Persephone and The Eleusinian Mysteries
- Three Greco-Roman Egyptomania: Isis and Serapis
- Four Mithraism: A Boys’ Club
- Five The Samothracian Mysteries and The Kabeiroi
- Six Orphism and The Dionysian Mysteries
- Seven Gods From Anatolia
- Eight Glycon; Or, How to Start Your Own Religious Cult in Antiquity
- Nine From Early Christianity to Modernity
- Glossary of Gods and Heroes in The Mysteries
- References
- Select Bibliography
- Acknowledgements
- Photo Acknowledgements
- Index