Mysteries

Abstract

Ancient mystery cults have long been considered as a special type of religious practice within Greco‐Roman polytheism, defined by initiation rituals of individual and voluntary participation, the transmission of a secret knowledge and an implacable prohibition of disclosure, high levels of emotional arousal, and the promise of salvific benefits in this life and often also in the next. However, recent research has questioned the universal validity of this definition, pointing out that not all the cults described as mysteries ( mystēria , teletē , orgia ) in ancient evidence present these characteristics. From this perspective, it is necessary to free ourselves from Christian‐centric conceptions of mysteries to grasp the real diversity and significance of these practices within ancient Mediterranean religion.