Samothrace: The Cult More Secretive than Eleusis

Описание: You know the Eleusis of Demeter and Kore well. That sanctuary is usually considered the most important and mysterious secret cult of Ancient Greece. But on the island of Samothrace there emerged an even more secretive cult. For centuries, pilgrims flocked to its sanctuary seeking the favor of mysterious gods whose true names were never spoken. Initiates confessed their darkest deeds, donned purple sashes and iron rings, and unlocked secrets that promised safe passage across treacherous seas. The legendary Nike of Samothrace stands as a testament to the power of these ancient rites. Come along as we discuss and explore this mysterious secret initiation cult which rivaled Eleusis in prestige and power!

SOURCES/SUGGESTED READINGS
(All READINGS AND MORE ARE AVAILABLE ON MY PATREON):

Wescoat, D and Osterhout, R. eds. 2013 The Architecture of the Sacred, ch. 3 "Coming and Going in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Samothrace." pp. 66-113.
Dimitrova, Nora M. 2008. Theoroi and Initiates in Samothrace. Hesperia Supp. 17.



Questions? Drop me (Aaron) a comment below or email at [email protected]


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Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:39 - Occluded Origins
02:52 - The Sanctuary
06:35 - Heroic Cycles
09:26 - Deep Meanings: Syncretism and Linguistics