Initiation Collection (#2)

The Eleusinian Mysteries, initiations for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis, Greece. The goddess Ceres sits on the Puteal on the Callirhoe well surrounded by dancing virgins

Ms Fr 2810 f. 17, Hassan i Sabbah leading the initiations at Alamut giving his followers
BAL125110 Ms Fr 2810 f.17, Hassan i Sabbah leading the initiations at Alamut giving his followers drugged wine, from the Livres des Merveilles du Monde

The Circumcision Ceremony (engraving)
STC177038 The Circumcision Ceremony (engraving) by French School, (18th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; French, out of copyright

The Unexpected Foot Bath, 1895 (oil on canvas)
XIR26296 The Unexpected Foot Bath, 1895 (oil on canvas) by Cogghe, Remy (1854-1935); 154x103 cm; Musee d Art et d Industrie, Roubaix, France; French, out of copyright

Boy dressed for his initiation as a Buddhist monk, Thailand (b / w photo)
6015604 Boy dressed for his initiation as a Buddhist monk, Thailand (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Iinitiation to the cult of the Eleusinian Mysteries, Demeter and Persephone host a procession, 4th century BC
ALI423055 Iinitiation to the cult of the Eleusinian Mysteries, Demeter and Persephone host a procession, 4th century BC.(terracotta) by Greek

Initiation in the Frat, 1917 (litho)
874697 Initiation in the Frat, 1917 (litho) by Bellows, George Wesley (1882-1925); 25.88 x32.39 cm; San Diego Museum of Art, USA; eSan Diego Museum of Art; Museum purchase; American, out of copyright

Initiation into the Order of Kinghthood (engraving)
664510 Initiation into the Order of Kinghthood (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation into the Order of Kinghthood)

Ceremony of the Cult of Isis, from Pompeii (fresco) (b / w photo)
ALI242797 Ceremony of the Cult of Isis, from Pompeii (fresco) (b/w photo) by Roman; Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples, Campania

Bacchic initiation rites
Bacchic rite. Women offering figs on platters to Bacchus, and seated woman in an initiation rite accompanied by a genius of Ceres (boy with wings)

Initiation Mormonne (colour litho)
2780243 Initiation Mormonne (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation Mormonne)

Initiation of a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret (engraving)
3100774 Initiation of a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret)

Initiation of a Knight of Saint Andrew (engraving)
3100771 Initiation of a Knight of Saint Andrew (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Knight of Saint Andrew)

Initiation of a Commander of the Temple (engraving)
3100766 Initiation of a Commander of the Temple (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Commander of the Temple)

Initiation of an Intendant of the Building (engraving)
3100744 Initiation of an Intendant of the Building (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of an Intendant of the Building)

Initiation to the degree of fellow (engraving)
3100725 Initiation to the degree of fellow (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation to the degree of fellow)

Initiation to the degree of master (engraving)
3100722 Initiation to the degree of master (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation to the degree of master)

Sir W W Wynn initiated at the Eisteddfod, Porthmadog, Wales
Sir W W Wynn initiated as an Ovate at the Eisteddfod, Porthmadog, North Wales. Date: 1872

Personal adornment when received into the third degree of official membership cult, society (colour litho)
980592 Personal adornment when received into the third degree of official membership cult, society (colour litho) by American School

Personal adornment when received into the third degree of official membership cult, society (colour litho)
980581 Personal adornment when received into the third degree of official membership cult, society (colour litho) by American School

The Portmadoc Eisteddfod, Initiation of Sir W W Wynn as an Ovate at the Meeting of the Gorsedd Eyri (engraving)
1058059 The Portmadoc Eisteddfod, Initiation of Sir W W Wynn as an Ovate at the Meeting of the Gorsedd Eyri (engraving) by English School

The Last Race, O-Kee-pa Ceremony, 1832 (oil on canvas)
6041588 The Last Race, O-Kee-pa Ceremony, 1832 (oil on canvas) by Catlin, George (1796-1872); Private Collection; (add.info)

Initiation of a Knight Kadosch (engraving)
3100767 Initiation of a Knight Kadosch (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Knight Kadosch)

Initiation of a Knight of the Brazen Serpent (engraving)
3100762 Initiation of a Knight of the Brazen Serpent (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Knight of the Brazen Serpent)

Initiation of a Prussian Knight (engraving)
3100760 Initiation of a Prussian Knight (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Prussian Knight, or Patriarch Noachite)

Initiation to the degree of apprentice (engraving)
3100720 Initiation to the degree of apprentice (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation to the degree of apprentice)

The introduction of the candidate into the cavern (engraving)
3100714 The introduction of the candidate into the cavern (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The introduction of the candidate into the cavern)

A Turkish boy, plate 44 from Collection of One Hundred Prints Representing
STC409020 A Turkish boy, plate 44 from Collection of One Hundred Prints Representing the Different Nations of the Levant by Charles de Ferriol, engraved by Jean-Baptiste Haussard (fl.1679-1749)

A womens sewing circle at the Rodeph Sholom Sisterhood, 157 East 94th Street
MNY380873 A womens sewing circle at the Rodeph Sholom Sisterhood, 157 East 94th Street, New York, 1920 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942)

Americanization class at the Rodeph Sholom Sisterhood, 157 East 94th Street, New York
MNY380871 Americanization class at the Rodeph Sholom Sisterhood, 157 East 94th Street, New York, 1920 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942)

Assembly of Free Masons to Initiate an Apprentice, from
STC88453 Assembly of Free Masons to Initiate an Apprentice, from The Ceremonies of Religion and Custom, c.1733 (engraving) by French School

Crossing the Line, plate from The Adventures of Johnny Newcome in the Navy
STC104907 Crossing the Line, plate from The Adventures of Johnny Newcome in the Navy by John Mitford (1782-1831) engraved by W

Reception d un neophyte mormon (engraving)
2789866 Reception d un neophyte mormon (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Reception d un neophyte mormon)

Baptism according to the Church of Rome (in the 18th century), engraved by A
PML143637 Baptism according to the Church of Rome (in the 18th century), engraved by A. Thorn, from World Religion, published by A. Fullarton & Co

Initiation of a new member into a group of the Carbonari, network of revolutionary secret societies in Italy
3647651 Initiation of a new member into a group of the Carbonari, network of revolutionary secret societies in Italy, 19th Century (engraving) by German School

Fraternal surveillance (engraving)
3100783 Fraternal surveillance (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fraternal surveillance)

Initiation of a Prince of Mercy (engraving)
3100764 Initiation of a Prince of Mercy (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Prince of Mercy)

Initiation of a Knight of the Sun (engraving)
3100761 Initiation of a Knight of the Sun (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Knight of the Sun)

Initiation of a Grand Pontiff (engraving)
3100754 Initiation of a Grand Pontiff (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Grand Pontiff)

Initiation of a Prince of Jerusalem (engraving)
3100749 Initiation of a Prince of Jerusalem (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Prince of Jerusalem)

Initiation of a Knight of the Sword, or Knight of the East (engraving)
3100746 Initiation of a Knight of the Sword, or Knight of the East (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of a Knight of the Sword)

Initiation of an Elect of the Fifteen (engraving)
3100739 Initiation of an Elect of the Fifteen (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Initiation of an Elect of the Fifteen)

Paying Off, from Greenwich Hospital, a Series of Naval Sketches
2637002 Paying Off, from Greenwich Hospital, a Series of Naval Sketches, Descriptive of a Life of a Man-of-Wars Man, pub. 1826 (hand coloured engraving) by Cruikshank

The Taking of the Veil, 1898 (oil on canvas)
SRM96535 The Taking of the Veil, 1898 (oil on canvas) by Nesterov, Mikhail Vasilievich (1862-1942); 178x195 cm; State Russian Museum, St

Mandan Initiation Ceremony (The Sundance), 1888 (oil on board)
1064861 Mandan Initiation Ceremony (The Sundance), 1888 (oil on board) by Remington, Frederic (1861-1909); 53.3x47 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; American, out of copyright

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"Journey into the Unknown: Exploring the Fascinating World of Initiation" Step into a world shrouded in mystery and ancient rituals as we delve into the concept of initiation. From the initiation of Freemasons to secret societies, this captivating journey takes us across time and continents. In Italy's Pompeii, within the enigmatic Villa of Mysteries, scenes unfold depicting an initiation ceremony that leaves us questioning its purpose and significance. Meanwhile, in Amsterdam's Portuguese Synagogue, a cult initiation scene from centuries ago transports us back to a time when secrecy held great power. Breaking barriers of gender norms, we witness female initiations taking place around the globe. Whether it be Chinese Taoist treatises on sexual initiation or Egyptian rites bestowing mastery upon women, these ceremonies highlight their empowerment and role in society. Venturing further eastward to Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Archipelago, we encounter The Duk Duk Society. Their elaborate initiation rituals showcase cultural heritage passed down through generations – a testament to preserving traditions amidst modernity. Secret societies have long fascinated humanity with their clandestine practices. Nineteenth-century engravings reveal glimpses into their hidden worlds during intricate initiation ceremonies. These secretive gatherings serve as reminders that there is much more beneath the surface than meets the eye. From novice to master – each step represents growth and transformation along one's personal journey. Initiations hold immense significance for those seeking enlightenment or higher knowledge; they mark milestones where individuals embrace new roles and responsibilities within their communities. As we explore ancient artifacts like Taurobolium Altar at Athens' National Archaeological Museum or dive deep into historical texts such as Sou Nu King - a Chinese Taoist treatise on sexual initiation - our understanding expands beyond mere curiosity towards appreciation for diverse cultures worldwide. Initiation remains an ever-present thread connecting humanity throughout history – an invitation to embark on extraordinary quests for self-discovery and spiritual awakening.