Apollonius of Tyana, the Philosopher-Reformer of the First Century A.D.Mead, G. R. S. (George Robert Stow)
Religion
Apollonius of Tyana, the Philosopher-Reformer of the First Century A.D.
Mead, G. R. S. (George Robert Stow)
Apollonius, of Tyana; Philosophers -- Greece -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient -- Oriental influences
Can it be possible that the attention which Apollonius bestowed upon the
graves and funeral monuments of the mighty dead of Greece may have been
inspired by the circle of ideas which led to the erection of the
innumerable dāgobas and stūpas in Buddhist lands, originally over the
relics of the Buddha, and the subsequent preservation of relics of
arhats and great teachers?
At Lesbos Apollonius visited the ancient temple of the Orphic mysteries,
which in early years had been a great centre of prophecy and divination.
Here also he was privileged to enter the inner shrine or adytum (iv.
14).
The Tyanean arrived in Athens at the time of the Eleusinian Mysteries,
and in spite of the festival and rites not only the people but also the
candidates flocked to meet him to the neglect of their religious duties.
Apollonius rebuked them, and himself joined in the necessary preliminary
rites and presented himself for initiation.
It may, perhaps, surprise the reader to hear that Apollonius, who had
already been initiated into higher privileges than Eleusis could afford,
should present himself for initiation. But the reason is not far to
seek; the Eleusinia constituted one of the intermediate organisations
between the popular cults and the genuine inner circles of instruction.
They preserved one of the traditions of the inner way, even if their
officers for the time being had forgotten what their predecessors had
once known. To restore these ancient rites to their purity, or to
utilise them for their original object, it was necessary to enter within
the precincts of the institution; nothing could be effected from
outside. The thing itself was good, and Apollonius desired to support
the ancient institution by setting the public example of seeking
initiation therein; not that he had anything to gain personally.
But whether it was that the hierophant of that time was only ignorant,
or whether he was jealous of the great influence of Apollonius, he
refused to admit our philosopher, on the ground that he was a sorcerer
(γόης), and that no one could be initiated who was tainted by
intercourse with evil entities (δαιμόνια). To this charge Apollonius
replied with veiled irony: “You have omitted the most serious charge
that might have been urged against me: to wit, that though I really know
more about the mystic rite than its hierophant, I have come here
pretending to desire initiation from men knowing more than myself.” This
charge would have been true; he had made a pretence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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