Esotericism in Ancient Greece

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

The expressions of “esoteric” and “esotericism” have a wide range of meanings, however, they specifically apply to religious, mystical, and philosophical secret schools. In ancient Greek world, i.e. before the Hellenistic era, we come across some currents with esoteric tendencies. The various texts from this period show that the ancient Greeks sought the source of the esoteric currents outside the cultural boundaries of Greece, somewhere in Egypt or Asia. The Greek esoteric currents before Plato’s time include Eleusinian, Dionysiac/Bacchic and Orphic religions and Pythagorean religious-philosophical school. The common end of these currents is deliverance through purification (catharsis). In the Greek esoteric religions, this end is reached through the initiatory rites and mystery cults. The Orphism also obliges the initiators to observe some ritual prohibitions and instils despising of the earthly world in them. The Pythagoreans, while preserving the religious dimensions, base their esotericism on knowledge and thus establish their own unique philosophical esotericism.

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Religions and Mysticism
Volume 48, Issue 2
February 2015
Pages 205-226

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