67.
Pythagorean reforms: *
The cult of Demeter and Persephone had a special initiation ceremony. It allowed anyone in society to enter so long as they spoke Greek and were not murders; open to all, even women & slaves. They featured a series of celebrations consisting of Lesser Mysteries and Greater Mysteries, with the Greater celebrated every five years. Few details of the mysteries have survived as members who revealed the secrets often met their demise at the hands of other members. The secrets of the mysteries are thought to revolve around hidden physical objects — the contents of a giant chest and an enclosed basket were known by low level imitates, with an increasing number of secrets revealed to tenured members and priests.
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As for the Pythagoreans, there certainly seem to be some similarities. Pythagoras started his cult in 515 BC in Croton, S Italy. It was hugely popular & like the Eleusinian mysteries, open to men and women. Pythagoras was widely traveled & was especially knowledgeable of Egyptian cults, familiar with Orpheus & Ionian philosophical schools, knew the mysteries of Byblos & Tyre; he toured the oracles of the Greek world including Eleusis. He had perfect comprehension of the Principles of Ritual as they were applied to all religions of his time. His quest was to combine all viewpoints without conflict.
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Pythagorean philosophy is a “purification”, the aim of which is the assimilation to God. Like the Eleusinian mysteries Initiation into the cult was a major feature. The Brotherhood was open to volunteers (again like the Eleusinian Mysteries) but before anyone was accepted into the “Brotherhood” they were rigorously scrutinized and tested. The criterion was stringent resulting only in extraordinarily brilliant and spiritually advanced adepts. There was a strict taxonomy of initiates; all stated at the lowest level & worked their way up. Many were rejected; those at the highest level were called “Mathematicians”. Likewise their was a hierarchy of knowledge of the secrets again mirroring the Eleusinian Mysteries. And again like the Eleusinian Mysteries, anyone guilty of divulging a secret would be murdered by another member.