Note 1379 — Chapter X · ORPHIC MYSTERIES. (continued 2)

Soph. Oed. Col. 1048. I have translated κλῄς by key not by seal, although, as Prof. Jebb (ad loc.) points out, ‘there is no evidence for the Eleusinian Hierophant putting a key to the lips of the initiated.’ In face of the fact that the key was the recognized symbol of priestly office, I incline to think some such ceremony was enacted. We know from Hesychius (s.v.) that there was a festival or ceremony called ‘the festival of the keys,’ Epikleidia, but unhappily we have no details and cannot use the fact as an argument.