Greco-Roman mysteries

See Western esotericism for modern "mystery religions" in the Western cultural sphere. Definition[edit] The term "Mystery" derives from Latin mysterium, from Greek mysterion (usually as the plural mysteria μυστήρια), in this context meaning "secret rite or doctrine". An individual who followed such a "Mystery" was a mystes, "one who has been initiated", from myein "to close, shut", a reference to secrecy (closure of "the eyes and mouth")[4]:56 or that only initiates were allowed to observe and participate in rituals. The Mysteries were thus cults in which all religious functions were closed to the uninitiated and for which the inner workings of the cult were kept secret from the general public. Characteristics[edit] Mystery religions form one of three types of Hellenistic religion, the others being the imperial cult or ethnic religion particular to a nation or state, and the philosophic religions such as Neoplatonism. Mysteries thus supplement rather than compete with civil religion.

Ancient Greece - history, mythology, art, culture and architectu Greece Greece (Greek: Ελλάδα, Elláda, pronounced [eˈlaða] ( )), officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία [eliniˈci ðimokraˈti.a] Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía)[11] and known since ancient times as Hellas (Greek: Ἑλλάς), is a country in Southern Europe.[12] According to the 2011 census, Greece's population is around 11 million. Athens is the nation's capital and largest city. Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilization of Mycenaean Greece and is considered the cradle of all Western civilization. Greece is a democratic,[20] developed country with an advanced high-income economy, a high standard of living[21][22] and a very high Human Development Index.[23] Greece is a founding member of the United Nations, a member of what is now the European Union since 1981 (and the eurozone since 2001[24]), and is also a member of numerous other international institutions, including the Council of Europe, NATO[a], OECD, OSCE and the WTO. Etymology History Earliest settlements to 3rd century BC

Outline of Greece The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Greece: The Hellenic Republic, commonly known as Greece, is a sovereign country located on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe.[1] Greece borders Albania, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Macedonia to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east and south of mainland Greece, while the Ionian Sea lies to the west. Both parts of the Eastern Mediterranean basin feature a vast number of islands. Greece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia and Africa. Greece is a developed country, a member of the European Union since 1981,[7] a member of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union since 2001, NATO since 1952,[8] the OECD since 1961,[9] the WEU since 1995 and ESA since 2005.[10] Athens is the capital; Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, Volos, Ioannina, Larissa and Kavala are some of the country's other major cities. General reference[edit] Geography of Greece[edit] Other

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