The Eleusinian mysteries & rites. - The Masonic Trowel

58 ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES AND RITES
Mysteries. According to the ancient writers the
" jests," so-called, would be regarded to-day as in
bad taste.
Having thus spoken, she drew aside her garments
And showed all that shape of the body which it is
improper to name—the growth of puberty.
And with her own hand lambe stripped herself under
the breasts.
Blandly then the goddess laughed and laughed in her
mind.
And received the glancing cup in which was the
draught.
During the Peloponnesian war the Athenians were
unable to obtain an armistice from the Lacedaemonians
who held Decelea, and it became necessary to send
the statue of lacchos and the processionists to
Eleusis by sea. Plutarch says : " Under these
conditions it was necessary to omit the sacrifices
usually offered all along the road during the passing
of lacchos."
Eighth Day.—The eighth day was called Epi-
daurion, because it happened once that iEsculapius,
coming from Epidaurius to Athens, desired to be
initiated, and had the Lesser Mysteries repeated for
that purpose. It therefore became customary to
celebrate the Lesser Mysteries a second time upon
this day, and to admit to initiation any such approved
candidates who had not already enjoyed the privilege.
There was also another reason for the repetition of