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Article THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES ← Page 3 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ancient Mysteries
In the mysteries of both Egypt and G-reece , a ship or vessel of some kind was usually employed—a mystic vessel of peculiar form called the A / rgha . In shape it was an elongated ellipse , made with both ends alike , and hence called \ Afi < pi 7 rpv / j , vaig ( Aniphiprymnais ) , or double-sterned . This ship was sometimes very ' large ; and was
carried in procession with the Phallus and other emblems , on the shoulders of seventy-two men . It was used , as will hereafter appear , both as a boat and as a coffin . Iii the mysteries of Osiris , the image of a dead man was borne in this vessel , which , besides the names of Arglia , bore the names of Baris , Tkeha , and Argo . The person thus represented was supposed
to be afterwards restored to life , or as the initiated say , to return from Hades . \ This vessel is the sacred ark or ship of Isis , and was employed as the vehicle of some one reported to have died ; his inclosure within it representing his descent to the infernal regions of their religion , his liberation from it his return to light . The person thus inclosed within the ark was supposed to be no other than Osiris , the great father . His interment was considered as his
aphanism or disappearance , and the lamentation lor Inm termed the first part of the mysteries . Onthe third day after his interment , or , as it really was , his inclosure , the priests bore down to the river the sacred ark , in which was also placed a small vessel of gold . Into this they poured water from the river ; which done , all present raised a shout of joy , and
declared that they had found him whose loss they had lamented ; that the dead Osiris , who had descended into Hades , had returned from thence , and was restored again to life and light . These rejoicings constituted the second part of the mysteries . Hence the watchwords of the Mystss , Ei / mjfjaucy , ayaXXtu ^ eda
. ( Eurekamen , agalliometha )—we have found him , let us rejoice . Hence the Orphic poet speaks of the mournful rites of the Egyptians , and of the sacred funeral rites of Osiris ; hence Ovid ' s expression , that the G-od is not sought with sufficient earnestness by his anxious votaries ; hence Theophilus speaks of the loss and recovery of Osiris as annually celebrated by the initiated ; hence Athenagoras and Julius ITirmicus ridicule the Egyptians for their absurdity , in first
mourning for Osiris , and then exulting at his revival and sacrificing to him as a god . Sometimes the rite is different , and it is Horns , the son of Isis , instead of Osiris her husband , who is lost and discovered . The difference is only an apparent , and not a real one ; for Osiris and Horns are the same divinity , only viewed as bearing the different relations
of consort and son to the great mother . Thus , each is said to suiter the same calamities , to be slain , or to suffer death in . some manner , and to be restored again to life . All ancient writers agree that the orgies or ceremonies of Isis are of a funereal nature , that the hero god dies , is enclosed in an ark or coffin , and comes to life again . But the ark in which Osiris or Horns is thus enclosed , is not only the coffin of the dead god , but is sometimes the ship of Isis , as the ark of Juno
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ancient Mysteries
In the mysteries of both Egypt and G-reece , a ship or vessel of some kind was usually employed—a mystic vessel of peculiar form called the A / rgha . In shape it was an elongated ellipse , made with both ends alike , and hence called \ Afi < pi 7 rpv / j , vaig ( Aniphiprymnais ) , or double-sterned . This ship was sometimes very ' large ; and was
carried in procession with the Phallus and other emblems , on the shoulders of seventy-two men . It was used , as will hereafter appear , both as a boat and as a coffin . Iii the mysteries of Osiris , the image of a dead man was borne in this vessel , which , besides the names of Arglia , bore the names of Baris , Tkeha , and Argo . The person thus represented was supposed
to be afterwards restored to life , or as the initiated say , to return from Hades . \ This vessel is the sacred ark or ship of Isis , and was employed as the vehicle of some one reported to have died ; his inclosure within it representing his descent to the infernal regions of their religion , his liberation from it his return to light . The person thus inclosed within the ark was supposed to be no other than Osiris , the great father . His interment was considered as his
aphanism or disappearance , and the lamentation lor Inm termed the first part of the mysteries . Onthe third day after his interment , or , as it really was , his inclosure , the priests bore down to the river the sacred ark , in which was also placed a small vessel of gold . Into this they poured water from the river ; which done , all present raised a shout of joy , and
declared that they had found him whose loss they had lamented ; that the dead Osiris , who had descended into Hades , had returned from thence , and was restored again to life and light . These rejoicings constituted the second part of the mysteries . Hence the watchwords of the Mystss , Ei / mjfjaucy , ayaXXtu ^ eda
. ( Eurekamen , agalliometha )—we have found him , let us rejoice . Hence the Orphic poet speaks of the mournful rites of the Egyptians , and of the sacred funeral rites of Osiris ; hence Ovid ' s expression , that the G-od is not sought with sufficient earnestness by his anxious votaries ; hence Theophilus speaks of the loss and recovery of Osiris as annually celebrated by the initiated ; hence Athenagoras and Julius ITirmicus ridicule the Egyptians for their absurdity , in first
mourning for Osiris , and then exulting at his revival and sacrificing to him as a god . Sometimes the rite is different , and it is Horns , the son of Isis , instead of Osiris her husband , who is lost and discovered . The difference is only an apparent , and not a real one ; for Osiris and Horns are the same divinity , only viewed as bearing the different relations
of consort and son to the great mother . Thus , each is said to suiter the same calamities , to be slain , or to suffer death in . some manner , and to be restored again to life . All ancient writers agree that the orgies or ceremonies of Isis are of a funereal nature , that the hero god dies , is enclosed in an ark or coffin , and comes to life again . But the ark in which Osiris or Horns is thus enclosed , is not only the coffin of the dead god , but is sometimes the ship of Isis , as the ark of Juno