The Ancient Mysteries: a Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World

Marvin W. Meyer

University of Pennsylvania Press, Apr 9, 1999 - Religion - 266 pages

Zeus and the other gods of shining Olympus were in reality divine only by popular consent. Over the course of time Olympian luster diminished in favor of religious experiences more immediate to the concerns of people living in an increasingly cosmopolitan ancient world. These experiences were provided by the mysteries, religions that flourished particularly during the Hellenistic period and were secretly practiced by groups of adherents who decided, through personal choice, to be initiated into the profound realities of one deity or another. Unlike the official state religions, in which people were expected to make an outward show of allegiance to the local gods, the mysteries emphasized an inwardness and privacy of worship within a closed band of initiates.

In this book, Marvin W. Meyer explores the sacrifices and prayers, the public celebrations and secret ceremonies, the theatrical performances and literary works, the gods and goddesses that were a part of the mystery religions of Greece in the seventh century B.C. to the Judaism and Christianity of the Roman world of the seventh century A.D.

What people are saying

Review: The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World

User Review  - Nicholas - Goodreads

I only bought this book for information on the Eleusian Mysteries, but got to caught up to put it down. I learned so much about the religions of the Mediterranean cultures. BUY THIS BOOK!

Review: Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts

User Review  - Ed - Goodreads

This is not light reading, but if you are curious about such things, this is a good starting point.

Contents

• The Greek Mysteries of the Grain Mother and Daughter: 15
• The Andanian Mysteries of Messenia: 47
• The Greek Mysteries of Dionysos: 61
• selection: 93
• The Anatolian Mysteries of the Great Mother and Her Lover: 113
• The Egyptian Mysteries of his and Osiris: 155
• The Roman Mysteries of Mithras: 197
• The Mysteries within Judaism and Christianity: 223
• Dying and Rising in Christianity and the Other Mysteries: 252
• Acknowledgments: 265

About the author

Marvin W. Meyer is Professor of Religious Studies at Chapman University. He has written and edited numerous books, including The Unknown Sayings of Jesus and Ancient Magic and Ritual Power. He is a research project director at the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate School, and codirector of the Albert Schweitzer Institute.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Ancient Mysteries: a Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World
• Editor: Marvin W. Meyer
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999
• ISBN: 081221692X, 9780812216929
• Length: 266 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Antiquities & Archaeology; Religion / Christianity / General; Religion / Comparative Religion; Religion / Institutions & Organizations; Social Science / Folklore & Mythology