Religion in ancient Greece had a strong public character and was, in many respects, a way of integrating the individual into the community. Within this public religion, there were special cults - 'mysteries'. These were selected voluntarily by each person in the polis, allowing them to deal with the gods on an individual basis. Privacy was needed for the practice of the mysteries, and this was secured by an initiation ceremony that brought each person to a new spiritual level, and a higher degree of awareness in relation to the gods. With the lack of written evidence that exists for the mysteries, archaeology has proved central to explaining their significance, and this welcome volume showcases new research on the archaeology, ritual and history of Greek mystery cults. Contributions range through Greece and Greek Asia Minor, and from the Bronze Age to the Roman imperial period. While the main focus is on major sites such as Eleusis and Samothrace, a conscious effort has been made to incorporate the large number of lesser known mysteric cults and deities.
Written by an international team of acknowledged experts, Greek Mysteries makes an important contribution to understanding a phenomenon central to Greek religion and society.