Fully illustrated, this is Thomas Taylor's essay on the ancient initiation rituals of Eleusis and Bacchus. The inner teachings of these ancient Mediterranean mystery religions have been lost for two millennia, but Taylor believed that he had found the skeleton key in classical mythology and Plato's philosophy. This influential essay outlines his theory. Chapters include: Fable Is Love's World, Poem By Schiller; Introduction To The Third Edition; Section 1. Eleusinian Mysteries; Section 2. Bacchic Mysteries; Hymn To Minerva; Appendix; Orphic Hymns; Hymn Of Cleanthes; and, Glossary.