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 (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.
