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[[File:Αρχαιολογικός χώρος Παλαιόπολης.jpg|thumb|250px|Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Paleopolis ([[w:Samothrace|Samothrace]])]]
[[File:Αρχαιολογικός χώρος Παλαιόπολης.jpg|thumb|250px|Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Paleopolis ([[w:Samothrace|Samothrace]])]]


The '''Samothracian mysteries''' were located on the mountainous and watery Greek island of [[w:Samothrace|Samothrace]] ({{lang|grc|Σαμοθράκη}} "Thracian Samos"), situated in the [[w:Thracian Sea|Thracian Sea]] of the northern [[w:Aegean Sea|Aegean]]. In these mysteries the Great Gods, the Kabiri ({{Greek|Κάβειροι}} "the Great", {{Latin|Cabiri}}), were worshipped. According to mythological tradition, they were [[chthonic gods]] of both sexes from [[w:Asia Minor|Asia Minor]] and servants of the Great Mother, the Kabeiro, whom the Greeks identified with [[Rhea]], the mother of the gods, but also with [[Demeter]], [[Hecate]] and [[Aphrodite]]. They were actually the esoteric side of [[w:Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]] (the Kersa), Demeter, the world of becoming. Compared to the Great Mother, they appeared like dwarfs, yet they were called Megaloi Theoi, "Great Gods". Of the four traditional names of the gods known from mysteries of the Kabirs, probably from Thebes, [[Axieros]], [[Axiokersa]], [[Axiokersos]] and [[Kadmilos]], it was claimed that they signified Persephone, Demeter, Hades and Hermes. The Greek prefix ''axios'', which occurs in these names, means worthy. The name Kabiren is not of Greek origin, but derives from the mountain Kabeiros in the landscape of Berekyntia, which belonged to the Phrygian mother of the gods. Only later did they make Samothrace their sacred mystery island. At this time [[Orpheus]] was also their disciple. They were invoked as saving gods by sailors in distress.
The '''Samothracian mysteries''' were located on the mountainous and watery Greek island of [[w:Samothrace|Samothrace]] ({{lang|grc|Σαμοθράκη}} "Thracian Samos"), situated in the [[w:Thracian Sea|Thracian Sea]] of the northern [[w:Aegean Sea|Aegean]]. In these mysteries the Great Gods, the [[Kabiri]] ({{Greek|Κάβειροι}} "the Great", {{Latin|Cabiri}}), were worshipped. According to mythological tradition, they were [[chthonic gods]] of both sexes from [[w:Asia Minor|Asia Minor]] and servants of the Great Mother, the Kabeiro, whom the Greeks identified with [[Rhea]], the mother of the gods, but also with [[Demeter]], [[Hecate]] and [[Aphrodite]]. They were actually the esoteric side of [[w:Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]] (the Kersa), Demeter, the world of becoming. Compared to the Great Mother, they appeared like dwarfs, yet they were called Megaloi Theoi, "Great Gods". Of the four traditional names of the gods known from mysteries of the Kabirs, probably from Thebes, [[Axieros]], [[Axiokersa]], [[Axiokersos]] and [[Kadmilos]], it was claimed that they signified Persephone, Demeter, Hades and Hermes. The Greek prefix ''axios'', which occurs in these names, means worthy. The name Kabiren is not of Greek origin, but derives from the mountain Kabeiros in the landscape of Berekyntia, which belonged to the Phrygian mother of the gods. Only later did they make Samothrace their sacred mystery island. At this time [[Orpheus]] was also their disciple. They were invoked as saving gods by sailors in distress.
 
The Kabiri are closely connected with the becoming of man. [[Goethe]] had already sensed this and therefore lets them appear in the second part of his [[Faust tragedy]] in the [[Classical Walpurgis Night]] where the [[Homunculus]] is to become a homo, a [[human being]]:
 
{{GZ|In this way, however, Goethe shows that he had a deep and meaningful conception of the Kabiri of Samothrace, that he had a feeling for the fact that these Kabiri were revered in ancient times as the guardians of those forces which are connected with the becoming of man, with the genesis of man. So Goethe touches on the highest by calling up from the time of atavistic clairvoyance the images of those divine powers that are connected with the becoming of man.
 
The Greek view itself already referred to very old things when it spoke of the mysteries of Samothrace. And we may say that in contrast to all the various ideas of the gods and the connection between man and these gods that the Greeks had, the ideas about the deities of Samothrace and the Kabirian deities pervaded everything. And the ancient Greek was convinced that he had received a conception, an idea, of human immortality through that which had entered the Greek consciousness as a legacy of the Samothracian mysteries. The Greek thought that he owed the idea of human immortality, that is, of man's belonging to the spiritual-mental universe, to the influence of the Samothracian Kabiri mysteries.
 
Thus Goethe wants to say at the same time: Perhaps the abstract human idea of the Homunculus comes together with the real forces of human development when, in a bodiless state, the impulses are grasped which the Greek thought of as connected with his Kabiri of Samothrace.|273|201f}}


== Literature ==
== Literature ==

Revision as of 07:03, 2 July 2022

Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Paleopolis (Samothrace)

The Samothracian mysteries were located on the mountainous and watery Greek island of Samothrace (Σαμοθράκη "Thracian Samos"), situated in the Thracian Sea of the northern Aegean. In these mysteries the Great Gods, the Kabiri (Greek: Κάβειροι "the Great", Latin: Cabiri), were worshipped. According to mythological tradition, they were chthonic gods of both sexes from Asia Minor and servants of the Great Mother, the Kabeiro, whom the Greeks identified with Rhea, the mother of the gods, but also with Demeter, Hecate and Aphrodite. They were actually the esoteric side of Ceres (the Kersa), Demeter, the world of becoming. Compared to the Great Mother, they appeared like dwarfs, yet they were called Megaloi Theoi, "Great Gods". Of the four traditional names of the gods known from mysteries of the Kabirs, probably from Thebes, Axieros, Axiokersa, Axiokersos and Kadmilos, it was claimed that they signified Persephone, Demeter, Hades and Hermes. The Greek prefix axios, which occurs in these names, means worthy. The name Kabiren is not of Greek origin, but derives from the mountain Kabeiros in the landscape of Berekyntia, which belonged to the Phrygian mother of the gods. Only later did they make Samothrace their sacred mystery island. At this time Orpheus was also their disciple. They were invoked as saving gods by sailors in distress.

The Kabiri are closely connected with the becoming of man. Goethe had already sensed this and therefore lets them appear in the second part of his Faust tragedy in the Classical Walpurgis Night where the Homunculus is to become a homo, a human being:

„In this way, however, Goethe shows that he had a deep and meaningful conception of the Kabiri of Samothrace, that he had a feeling for the fact that these Kabiri were revered in ancient times as the guardians of those forces which are connected with the becoming of man, with the genesis of man. So Goethe touches on the highest by calling up from the time of atavistic clairvoyance the images of those divine powers that are connected with the becoming of man.

The Greek view itself already referred to very old things when it spoke of the mysteries of Samothrace. And we may say that in contrast to all the various ideas of the gods and the connection between man and these gods that the Greeks had, the ideas about the deities of Samothrace and the Kabirian deities pervaded everything. And the ancient Greek was convinced that he had received a conception, an idea, of human immortality through that which had entered the Greek consciousness as a legacy of the Samothracian mysteries. The Greek thought that he owed the idea of human immortality, that is, of man's belonging to the spiritual-mental universe, to the influence of the Samothracian Kabiri mysteries.

Thus Goethe wants to say at the same time: Perhaps the abstract human idea of the Homunculus comes together with the real forces of human development when, in a bodiless state, the impulses are grasped which the Greek thought of as connected with his Kabiri of Samothrace.“ (Lit.:GA 273, p. 201f)

Literature
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.
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