Samothracian Mysteries
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.
