Cult of the great gods
The cult of the great gods existed in ancient Greece as one of several mystery cults alongside the worship of the Olympian deities .
The most important sanctuary of the great gods or Kabiren , who are exclusively chthonic deities (Chthonioi) and thus belong to the earth, is the still quite well-preserved Hieron ton Megalon Theon on the Greek island of Samothraki . The cult of the great gods on Samothrace, like the Mysteries of Eleusis, was a Panhellenic cult. The main deity of the great gods can be seen as the great mother or Cybele , who was identified or merged with female earth deities such as Rhea , Gaia and Demeter in various places in Greece . To this day, many details of the cult have remained secret. Probably one hoped for happiness in life or salvation in a world after death. Most of the initiations took place at a main festival in summer, but unlike the Eleusis Mysteries, they were possible all year round. It is noteworthy that not only free Greek men, but also women, children, non-Greeks and slaves were admitted to the ritual acts . Two stages of initiation are known: 1. the lower Myesis and 2. the higher Epopteia . The dedication ceremonies took place at night with various altar offerings and ritual dances. As far as is known, the initiates were not allowed to speak about this initiation and the corresponding knowledge of the mysteries of the Great Gods.
- See also the sanctuary of the chthonic deities near Agrigento in Sicily