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The mysteries of Isis were religious initiation rites performed in the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis in the Greco-Roman world. They were modeled on other mystery rites , particularly the Eleusinian mysteries in honor of the Greek goddesses Demeter and Persephone , and originated sometime between the third century BCE and the second century CE .
Eager to be initiated into the mystery cult of Isis, Lucius abstains from forbidden foods, bathes and purifies himself. Then the secrets of the cult's books are explained to him and further secrets revealed, before going through the process of initiation which involves a trial by the elements in a journey to the underworld.
The initiation was preceded by a normal bathing in the public baths and a ceremonial sprinkling by the priest, after which the candidate was given secret instructions in the temple of Isis. The candidate then fasted for ten days from meat and wine, after which he was dressed in linen and led at night into the innermost part of the sanctuary ...
Although the cult of Demeter kept information about its rites a secret only to those in the cult, the cult itself was open to a wide array of people. Initiates could be young or old, male or female, even slave or free. [6] The only requirement, it seems, is that initiates could not have any sort of un-atoned bloodguilt on their hands. [6]
The description refers to the Athenian cult of Isis, which precedes its development into a mystery cult (in the classical sense) in Roman times. Therefore, if the subject of the WP article is the cult after Hellenization, indeed it appears it warrants changing the WP article's title to “Isis Cult and Mysteries” (and we are banging the same ...
Further into the temple are altars and recesses in the walls; outside of the temple was a crypt used for initiating members into the cult. [8] It also features a large room - called an E kklesiasterion - at the back of the sanctuary, which functioned as a gathering area for the members of the cult to participate in rituals. [ 18 ]
The Metamorphoses ends with the (once again human) hero, Lucius, eager to be initiated into the mystery cult of Isis; he abstains from forbidden foods, bathes, and purifies himself. He is introduced to the Navigium Isidis. Then the secrets of the cult's books are explained to him, and further secrets are revealed before he goes through the ...
The Egyptian goddess Isis was a representative of the imperial cult, comparable to the position of Venus in the Julian imperial house. In this context, bricks with military brick stamps found on site suggest that a building had been erected on behalf of the Emperor for the purpose of cult practice promoted by the Emperor.