The Ancient Mysteries and Secret Societies

Which Have Influenced Modern Masonic Symbolism

A full-page height color illustration by J. Augustus Knapp. It depicts Mithra as the Leontecephalic Kronos: a winged, lion-headed human figure wrapped six times by a serpent whose head rests upon the lion's crown. The figure stands upon a globe marked with zodiacal symbols (Aries, Taurus, etc.). He holds a golden key in his right hand and a scepter in his left. Above his head is a brilliant white star/sun; to the right is a crescent moon and stars. At the bottom, three hooded figures kneel in shadow upon a dark landscape.

Copyrighted by Manly P. Hall.

"At the peak of the divine hierarchy," writes Franz Cumont, "and at the origin of all things, Mithraic theology—the heir to that of the Zervanitic Magi—placed boundless Time. Sometimes they would call it Aeon or Saeculum, Kronos or Saturn; but these names were conventional and accidental, for he was considered ineffable, possessing neither name, sex, nor passions." (See The Mysteries of Mithra.) The figure represents the inevitable victory of boundless Time (Eternity) over every creature and condition. In Time, all beings reach completion; in Time, all wrongs are corrected; in Time, salvation is guaranteed to all. The lion's head signifies that the mortal concept of Time is the despotic ruler of the animal—or irrational—creation; that its strength is supreme; and that it consumes all the lesser powers that exist temporarily within it. The coils of the serpent represent the motion of the heavenly spheres through the zodiac, which is shown here as a human body. The golden key indicates that Time is the key to the mystery of existence. The sword is the instrument by which the demon of man-made Time is slain and his body divided into past and future, while the gods are given rulership of the "everlasting now." The double set of wings signifies the flight of Time through the lower worlds of the four elements, and the eight stars represent the spheres upheld by Time. The dome of the Mithraic cave is decorated with stars to symbolize the universality of the divine cult, and the radiant globe upon which the figure stands is the universe. The resurrection of the figure from the darkness of the tomb reveals the ascension of boundless duration from the narrow limitations of human-conceived time. The three kneeling figures represent the limitations of the three-dimensional world—length, breadth, and thickness—which bow before the limitless Aeon an indefinite or very long period of time; in Gnosticism, a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being.

WHEN confronted with a problem involving the use of reasoning, individuals with strong intellects maintain their composure and seek a solution within themselves by gathering facts related to the question. Those with less developed minds, however, are overwhelmed when faced with similar challenges. While the former may be qualified to solve the riddle of their own destiny, the latter must be led like a flock of sheep and taught in simple language. They depend almost entirely on the guidance of a shepherd. The Apostle Paul said that these "little ones" must be fed with milk, but that meat is the food of strong men. Thoughtlessness is almost the same as childishness, while thoughtfulness is a symbol of maturity.

There are, however, very few mature minds in the world. Consequently, the philosophical-religious doctrines of the pagans were divided to meet the needs of these two fundamental groups of human intellect—one capable of philosophy, the other unable to appreciate the deeper mysteries of life. To the discerning few, the esoteric intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge, or spiritual, teachings were revealed. The unqualified masses received only the literal, or exoteric intended for or likely to be understood by the general public, interpretations. To simplify the great truths of Nature and the abstract principles of natural law, the vital forces of the universe were personified, becoming the gods and goddesses of ancient mythology. While the ignorant multitudes brought their offerings to the altars of Priapus and Pan (deities representing procreative energies), the wise recognized these marble statues only as symbolic embodiments of great abstract truths.

In every city of the ancient world, there were temples for public worship and sacrifice. In every community, there were also philosophers and mystics deeply learned in the lore of Nature. These individuals usually banded together to form secluded philosophical and religious schools. The most important of these groups were known as the Mysteries. Many of the great minds of antiquity were initiated into these secret fraternities through strange and mysterious rites, some of which were extremely harsh. Alexander Wilder defines the Mysteries as "Sacred dramas performed at set times. The most famous were those of Isis, Sabazius, Cybele, and Eleusis." After being admitted, the initiates were instructed in secret wisdom that had been preserved for ages. Plato, an initiate of one of these sacred orders, was severely criticized because his writings revealed many of the secret philosophical principles of the Mysteries to the public.

Every pagan nation had (and has) not only its state religion but also another into which only the philosophical elite gained entrance. Many of these ancient cults vanished from the earth without revealing their secrets, but a few have survived the test of time, and their mysterious symbols are still preserved. Much of the ritual in Freemasonry is based on the trials that candidates were put through by the ancient hierophants high priests or officials who explain holy secrets or mysteries before the keys of wisdom were entrusted to them.

Few realize how much the ancient secret schools influenced the thinkers of their time and, through them, future generations. Robert Macoy, 33°, in his General History of Freemasonry, pays a magnificent tribute to the role the ancient Mysteries played in building human culture. He writes, in part: "It appears that all the perfection of civilization, and all the advancement made in philosophy, science, and art among the ancients are due to those institutions which, under the veil of mystery, sought to illustrate the most sublime truths of religion, morality, and virtue, and impress them on the hearts of their disciples. . . . Their chief object was to teach the doctrine of one God, the resurrection of man to eternal life, the dignity of the human soul, and to lead the people to see the shadow of the deity in the beauty, magnificence, and splendor of the universe."

As virtue declined—a trend that has preceded the destruction of every nation in history—the Mysteries became corrupted. Sorcery took the place of divine magic. Indescribable practices (such as the Bacchanalia) were introduced, and perversion ruled supreme; for no institution can be any better than the members who compose it. In despair, the few who remained true sought to save the secret doctrines from being forgotten. In some cases they succeeded, but more often the arcanum a deep secret or mystery; specialized knowledge was lost, leaving only the empty shell of the Mysteries.

Thomas Taylor wrote, "Man is naturally a religious animal." From the earliest dawn of consciousness, man has worshiped and revered things as symbols of the invisible, omnipresent, and indescribable "Thing" about which he could discover almost nothing. The pagan Mysteries opposed the Christians during the early centuries of the church, claiming that the new faith (Christianity) did not require virtue and integrity as requirements for salvation. Celsus a 2nd-century Greek philosopher and opponent of Early Christianity expressed himself on the subject in the following harsh terms:

"I may accuse the Christians more bitterly than truth requires, as can be gathered from this: the heralds who call men to other mysteries proclaim: 'Let him approach whose hands are pure, and whose words are wise.' And others proclaim: 'Let him approach who is pure from all wickedness, whose soul is not conscious of any evil, and who leads a just and upright life.' These things are proclaimed by those who promise a purification from error. Let us now hear who is called to the Christian mysteries: Whoever is a sinner, whoever is unwise, whoever is a fool, and whoever, in short, is miserable—him the kingdom of God will receive. Do you not, therefore, call a sinner, an unjust man, a thief, a burglar, a wizard, one who is sacrilegious, and a robber of graves? What other persons would a herald nominate if he were calling robbers together?"

Circular engraving of the goddess Cybele (Mater Deorum Mater Syriae). She is seated on a throne between two lions, wearing a tiered mural crown and an elaborate cope embroidered with zodiacal signs. She holds a tympanum, sistrum, and other ritual implements.

original: "Mother of the Gods, Mother of Syria"

This illustration shows Cybele, here called the Syrian Goddess, in the robes of a hierophant. Montfaucon describes the figure as follows: "Upon her head is a bishop’s miter, decorated on the lower part with towers and pinnacles; over the city gate is a crescent, and beneath the circuit of the walls is a crown of rays. The Goddess wears a type of surplice, exactly like that of a priest or bishop; and over the surplice a tunic, which falls to her legs; and over all a bishop's cope, with the twelve signs of the Zodiac embroidered on the borders. The figure has a lion on each side and holds in its left hand a hand-drum, a rattle, a distaff, a caduceus, and another instrument. In her right hand she holds a thunderbolt with her middle finger, and upon the same arm are animals, insects, and—as far as we can guess—flowers and fruit, a bow, a quiver, a torch, and a scythe." The location of the statue is unknown; the copy reproduced by Montfaucon was based on drawings by Pirro Ligorio.

It was not the true faith of the early Christian mystics that Celsus attacked, but the false forms that were creeping in even during his day. The ideals of early Christianity were based on the high moral standards of the pagan Mysteries. The first Christians who met under the city of Rome used the underground temples of Mithras as their places of worship; much of the formal priesthood of the modern church has been borrowed from his cult.

The ancient philosophers believed that no one could live intelligently without a basic knowledge of Nature and her laws. Before a person can obey, they must understand, and the Mysteries were dedicated to instructing people on how divine law operates in the earthly realm. Few of the early cults actually worshiped gods in human form, even though their symbolism might suggest otherwise. They were focused on morality rather than religion; they were philosophical rather than theological. They taught people to use their faculties more intelligently, to be patient in the face of hardship, to be courageous when facing danger, to be true in the midst of temptation, and, most of all, to view a worthy life as the most acceptable sacrifice to God, and the human body as an altar sacred to the Deity.

Sun worship played an important role in nearly all the early pagan Mysteries. This indicates the great antiquity of these institutions, as the people of Atlantis were sun worshipers. The Solar Deity was usually personified as a beautiful youth with long golden hair to symbolize the rays of the sun. This golden Sun God was slain by wicked villains who personified the evil principles of the universe. Through certain rituals and ceremonies symbolizing purification and rebirth, this wonderful God of Good was brought back to life and became the Savior of his people. The secret processes by which He was resurrected symbolized the methods by which man is able to overcome his lower nature, master his appetites, and express the higher side of himself. The Mysteries were organized to assist the struggling human creature in reawakening the spiritual powers which, surrounded by the flaming