The Eleusinian mysteries & rites. - The Masonic Trowel

THE INITIATORY RITES 75
Alcibiades did not appear in answer to the charge,
and he was condemned in his absence, an order
being made that his goods were to be confiscated.
This occurred in 415 B.C. and the incident created
quite a panic, as many prominent citizens, Andocides
included, were impUcated. " This man," said the
accuser of Andocides, " vested in the same costume
as a hierophant, has shown the sacred objects to
men who were not initiated and has uttered words
which it is not permissible to repeat." Andocides
admitted the charge, but turned king's evidence,
and named certain others as culprits with him.
He was rewarded with a free pardon under a decree
which Isotmides had issued, but those whom he
named were either put to death or outlawed and
their goods were confiscated. Andocides afterwards
entered the temple while the Mysteries were in
progress and was charged with breaking the law in
so doing. He defended himself before a court of
hehasts, all of whom had been initiated into the
Mysteries, the president of the court being the
Archon Basileus. The indictment was lodged by
Cephisius, the chief prosecutor, with the Archon
Basileus, during the celebration of the Greater
Mysteries and while Andocides was still at Eleusis.
Andocides was acquitted, and it is stated that
Cephisius having failed to obtain one-fifth of the
votes of the court, the result, according to the
law, was that he had to pay a fine of a thousand