The Eleusinian mysteries & rites. - The Masonic Trowel

54 ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES AND RITES
in solemn procession. It was on this day that the
solemnity of the ceremonial reached its height.
The statue, as well as the people accompanying
it, were crowned with myrtle, the people dancing
all the way along the route, beating brass kettles
and playing instruments of various kinds and singing
sacred songs. Halts were made during the procession
at various shrines, at the site of the house of Phytalus,
who, it was said, received the goddess into his house,
and, according to an inscription on his tomb, she
requited him by reveaUng to him the culture of the
fig ; particularly at a fig-tree which was regarded
as sacred, because it had the renown of being planted
by Phytalus ; also upon a bridge built over the
river Cephissus, by the side of which Pluto descended
into Hades with Persephone, where the bystanders
made themselves merry at the expense of the pilgrims.
At each of the shrines sacrifices and libations were
offered, li37mns sung, and sacred dances performed.
Having passed the bridge, the people entered Eleusis
by what was known as the Mystical Entrance.
Midnight had set in before Eleusis was reached, so
that a great part of the journey had to be accompHshed
by the light of the torches carried by each of the
pilgrims, and the nocturnal journey was spoken
of as the ** Night of Torches " by many ancient
authors. The pitch and resin of which the torches
were composed were substances supposed to have
the virtue of warding off evil spirits. The barren