Mysterious cults represent the spiritual efforts of ancient Greeks to confront their mortality. As these cults were related to the inner world of each individual, secrecy was of utmost importance and was ensured through an initiation ceremony, a personal ritual that created close bonds between humans and gods. Once initiated, the individual was freed from the fear of death as they became a participant in eternal truth, known only to the immortals. Due to the oath of silence taken by the initiates, a dense veil of secrecy covered these cults, resulting in archaeology becoming our main tool in decrypting their significance.
In a field where archaeological research constantly brings forth new evidence, this volume provides a careful analysis of the most recent discoveries, as well as a crucial reassessment of older findings. The book focuses not only on major cults in Eleusis and Samothrace, but also on lesser-known Mysteries in various parts of Greece, spanning a period of approximately two thousand years, from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman Empire.

Written by an international team of recognized experts, the book "Greek Mysteries" constitutes a significant contribution to the understanding of Greek religion and society.