THE THIRD DEGREE

The Gates of Death, in which the newly-initiated is called Melanephoris. original: Melanephoris. Derived from the Greek melanephoros, meaning "wearer of black," indicating a ritual state of mourning or passage through the underworld.

The ability and good conduct of the Neokoris The rank attained in the Second Degree. make him capable of this degree. He was also informed of the exact time of his reception. The Thesmophore original: Tesmofores. A title likely derived from the Greek thesmophoros (law-bearer), an official in ancient mystery cults. led him into a front chamber, above the entrance of which was inscribed: The Gates of Death.

This room was filled with depictions of various kinds of embalmed bodies and coffins; the walls were all hung with similar symbols. And as this place was the location where dead bodies were deposited, this new Melanephoris found there the Paraschists 26) and all the Heroes 27).

26. People who opened the bodies. original: Paraskistop. This refers to the Paraschistai, the ritual embalmers who performed the initial incision for mummification.
27. Holy men designated for embalming. The term "Heroes" here likely refers to the Hery-seshta, or "Masters of Secrets," who oversaw the sacred aspects of the mummification process.