μυστήριον

μυστήρι-ον, τό, ([etym.] μύστης, μυέω)

A mystery or secret rite: mostly in pl., τὰ μ. the mysteries, first in Heraclit.14, cf. Hdt.2.51 (of the mysteries of the Cabiri in Samothrace), etc.; esp. those of Demeter at Eleusis, A.Fr.479, S. Fr.804, E.Supp.173, Ar.Ra.887, etc.; μυστηρίοις τοῖς μείζοσιν, τοῖς ὀλείζοσιν μ., IG12.6.93,96; but usu., τὰ μεγάλα, τὰ μικρὰ μ., Sch.Ar. Pl.846, cf. IG12.313.144, 22.1672.4, Pl.Grg.497c, etc.;

πρὸ τῶν μεγάλων μ. τὰ μικρὰ παραδοτέον Iamb.Protr.2

; ἀπιέναι πρὸ τῶν μ., i.e. before you have reached the heart of the matter, Pl.Men.76e; τὰ τῆς θεοῦ (sc. Μεγάλης Μητρὸς)

μ. OGI540.21

(Pessinus, i A.D.);

οἱ θεοὶ οἷς τὰ μ. ἐπιτελεῖται IG5(1).1390.2

(Andania, i B.C.);

τὰ μ. ποιεῖν And.1.11

, Lys.14.42, cf. Th.6.28 ([voice] Pass.); μ. ἐρεῖν And.l.c.: later in sg., PMag.Leid.W.3.42 (ii/iii A.D.).

2 mystic implements and ornaments,

σεμνὰ στεμμάτων μυστήρια E.Supp.470

; esp. properties, such as were carried to Eleusis at the celebration of the mysteries, ὄνος ἄγω μυστήρια, prov. of an over-loaded beast, Ar.Ra. 159.

b later, object used in magical rites, talisman,

δότε πνεῦμα τῷ ὑπ' ἐμοῦ κατεσκευασμένῳ μ. PMag.Leid.V.10.19

(iii/iv A.D.).

3 metaph.,

ὕπνος, τὰ μικρὰ τοῦ θανάτου μ. Mnesim.11

; τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς σεμνὸν μ., of the military sacramentum, Hdn.8.7.4: generally, mystery, secret, Pl.Tht.156a;

μυστήριόν σου μὴ κατείπῃς τῷ φίλῳ Men.695

, cf. LXX Si.27.16, To.12.7; προσήγγειλε τὰ μ. τοῖς πολεμίοις ib.2 Ma.13.21;

μυστήρια βίου Sor.1.3

; τοὐμὸν τὸ μ. [the remedy] is my secret, Aret.CD2.7: hence, of a medicine, Gal.13.96, Alex.Trall. 5.4.

4 secret revealed by God, i.e. religious or mystical truth, Corp. Herm.1.16, etc.;

τὰ μ. τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν Ev.Matt.13.11

;

πνεύματι λαλεῖν μυστήρια 1 Ep.Cor.14.2

; τὸ μ. τῆς ἀνομίας the mystery of iniquity, 2 Ep.Thess.2.7;

τὸν Ἀντιπάτρου βίον οὐκ ἂν ἁμάρτοιτις εἰπὼν κακίας μ. J.BJ1.24.1

; esp. of the Gospel or parts of it,

τὸ μ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ep.Eph.6.19

, cf. 3.9, Ep.Col.1.26, al.; symbol,

τὸ μ. τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων Apoc.1.20

, cf. 17.7.

5 σύνηθές τι μ. some vulgar superstition, Sor.1.4.

II Dionysius the tyrant called mouse-holes μυστήρια ([etym.] μῦς, τηρεῖν), Ath.3.98d.