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μυστήριον

μυστήριον, a mystery

μυστήρι-ον, τό, (μύστης, μυέω)
  • 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., IG 1(2).6.93,96; but usu., τὰ μεγάλα, τὰ μικρὰ μ., Sch. Ar. Pl. 846, cf. IG 1(2).313.144, 2(2).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. OGI 540.21 (Pessinus, i A.D.); οἱ θεοὶ οἷς τὰ μ. ἐπιτελεῖται IG 5(1).1390.2 (Andania, i B.C.); τὰ μ. ποιεῖν And. 1.11, Lys. 14.42, cf. Th. 6.28 (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 ὑπʼ 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. CD 2.7: 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. BJ 1.24.1; 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 (μῦς, τηρεῖν), Ath. 3.98d.

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