The Eleusinian mysteries & rites. - The Masonic Trowel

74 ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES AND RITES
and Heraclides of Pontus says that on this account
he was in danger of being killed by the populace if
he had not fled for refuge to the altar of Dionysos
and been begged off by the Areopagites and acquitted
on the ground of his exploits at Marathon. An
accusation was brought against Aristotle of having
performed a funeral sacrifice in honour of his wife
in imitation of the Eleusinian ceremonies. Alci-
biades was charged with mimicking the sacred
Mysteries in one of his drunken revels, when he
represented the hierophant ; Theodorus, one of
his friends, represented the herald ; and another,
Polytion, represented the dadouchos ; other com-
panions attending as initiates and being addressed
as mystae. The information against him ran :
" Thessalus, the son of Cimon, of the ward of
Lacais, accuseth Alcibiades, the son of Clinian, of
the ward of Scambonis, of sacrilegiously offending
the goddess Ceres and her daughter, Persephone,
by counterfeiting their Mysteries and showing them
to his companions in his own house, wearing such a
robe as the high priest does when he shows the holy
things ; he called himself high priest ; as did Poly-
tion torch-bearer ; and Theodorus, of the ward of
Thyges, herald ; and the rest of his companions
he called persons initiated and Brethren of the
Secret ; therein acting contrary to the rules and
ceremonies estabhshed by the Eumolpides, the
Heralds and Priests at Eleusis."
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