Although in modern times the word "flatterer" is often used to describe someone who eagerly seeks to please others, its original meaning refers to one who deceives by making false accusations.
Interesting piece, thank you for sharing it. Do you have any books you recommend on learning further about Hierophants? My first exposure to the concept was in Gore Vidal's wonderful novel Julian about the last Hellenist emperor. I'll quote briefly from it...
In this passage Julian meets with the Hierophant of Greece, telling him that he wants to be initiated into the Mysteries and also to help restore the Hellenist Gods to glory:
"[The Hierophant] was abrupt. “It is too late,” he said, echoing Prohaeresius. “Nothing you can do will change what is about to happen.”
I was not expecting such a response. “Do you know the future?”
“I am Hierophant,” he said simply. “The last Hierophant of Greece. I know many things, all tragic.”
I refused to accept this. “But how can you be the last? Why, for centuries…”
“Prince, these things are written at the beginning. No one may tamper with fate. When I die, I shall be succeeded not by a member of our family but by a priest from another sect. He will be in name, but not in fact, the final Hierophant. Then the temple at Eleusis will be destroyed - all the temples in all of Greece will be destroyed. The barbarians will come. The Christians will prevail. Darkness will fall.”
“Forever?”
“Who can say? The goddess has shown me no more than what I have told you. With me, the true line ends. With the next Hierophant, the mysteries themselves will end….Whether you are Emperor or not, Eleusis will be in ruins before the century is done.”
I looked at him closely…despite his terrible conviction, this small fat man with his protuberant eyes and fat hands was perfectly composed. I have never known such self-containment, even in Constantius.
“I refuse to believe,” I said at last, “that there is nothing we can do.”
He shrugged. “We shall go on as long as we can, as we always have.” He looked at me solemnly. “You must remember that because the mysteries come to an end makes them no less true. Those who were initiated will at least be fortunate in the underworld. Of course one pities those who come after us. But what is to be must be….I shall instruct you myself. We shall need several hours a day. Come to my house tonight.” With a small bow he withdrew....
Priscus wrote years later that “The Hierophant liked [Julian] but thought he was doomed, or so he told me years later. The Hierophant was an interesting man….he realized with extraordinary clarity that our old world was ended. There were times I think he took pleasure in knowing he was the last of a line that extended back two thousand years. Men are odd. If they cannot be first, they don’t in the least mind being last.”"
And thank you for the quote from the Gore Vidal work! That is also very important. The Hierophant's storyline encompasses profound implications pertaining to societal changes, the gradual erosion of long-established traditions, and the struggle to protect ancestral heritage against inevitable alterations. Observe the diminishing influence and importance of historical figures in positions of power, contrasted with the enduring existence of sycophantic behavior discussed in the preceding article, particularly within today's society.
I earnestly desire that through raising awareness of this matter, individuals will initiate transformative actions that reinstate sanctity, counteracting its desecration.
Regarding books, currently I am not aware of any literature that specifically delves into the subject of hierophants. It is possible that there may be individuals who possess knowledge in this area, but I can offer a few recommendations that touch upon the topic of hierophants within their broader scope of study:
Surprisingly, my knowledge of the Hierophant was acquired indirectly, while delving into historical subjects tangentially related to my original research topic. Despite my extensive reading, I have not yet encountered any dedicated works focusing solely on ancient hierophants, which presents an intriguing opportunity for an author seeking a distinctive and captivating subject to explore. If you navigate to Google Scholar and conduct a search for hierophants, you may come across a few intriguing articles regarding the topic. However, it will be necessary to sift through a plethora of irrelevant material, and obtaining access to the specific article mentioned can be a cumbersome task at times.
Regarding the subject of hierophant versus sycophant, as far as my awareness extends, I seem to be the sole individual to have raised this matter; however, it is improbable that I am the only one to have recognized the resemblances in their nomenclature and the intriguing "reveler of" aspect which I elucidate in the aforementioned article. Despite this, conducting research for the said article proved to be exceedingly challenging.
A few decades ago, immediately after my graduation, I assumed the role of an adjunct professor without having a clear understanding of my career options. Depending on the individual you inquire, you may hear that I gracefully departed the institution or was politely asked to resign from this position by the top brass. This resulted from witnessing the detrimental influences of academia on the younger generation and my efforts to impart enlightening guidance to them.
The primary lesson I have acquired from academia is the daunting challenge of remedying something that has been subjected to years of deliberate corruption. Nevertheless, within my online writings, I persist in cultivating my own knowledge and imparting the insights I have gathered throughout my journey.
In the future, if it is of interest to my audience, I can write an article or two on the topic of homeschooling and the limitless possibilities of self-education.
Certainly. Mainstream conservatives are currently occupied with preserving entities that are in need of natural deterioration. Instead, we should focus on constructing novel and superior establishments. My recommendation is to start from scratch and build it up systematically.
Interesting piece, thank you for sharing it. Do you have any books you recommend on learning further about Hierophants? My first exposure to the concept was in Gore Vidal's wonderful novel Julian about the last Hellenist emperor. I'll quote briefly from it...
In this passage Julian meets with the Hierophant of Greece, telling him that he wants to be initiated into the Mysteries and also to help restore the Hellenist Gods to glory:
"[The Hierophant] was abrupt. “It is too late,” he said, echoing Prohaeresius. “Nothing you can do will change what is about to happen.”
I was not expecting such a response. “Do you know the future?”
“I am Hierophant,” he said simply. “The last Hierophant of Greece. I know many things, all tragic.”
I refused to accept this. “But how can you be the last? Why, for centuries…”
“Prince, these things are written at the beginning. No one may tamper with fate. When I die, I shall be succeeded not by a member of our family but by a priest from another sect. He will be in name, but not in fact, the final Hierophant. Then the temple at Eleusis will be destroyed - all the temples in all of Greece will be destroyed. The barbarians will come. The Christians will prevail. Darkness will fall.”
“Forever?”
“Who can say? The goddess has shown me no more than what I have told you. With me, the true line ends. With the next Hierophant, the mysteries themselves will end….Whether you are Emperor or not, Eleusis will be in ruins before the century is done.”
I looked at him closely…despite his terrible conviction, this small fat man with his protuberant eyes and fat hands was perfectly composed. I have never known such self-containment, even in Constantius.
“I refuse to believe,” I said at last, “that there is nothing we can do.”
He shrugged. “We shall go on as long as we can, as we always have.” He looked at me solemnly. “You must remember that because the mysteries come to an end makes them no less true. Those who were initiated will at least be fortunate in the underworld. Of course one pities those who come after us. But what is to be must be….I shall instruct you myself. We shall need several hours a day. Come to my house tonight.” With a small bow he withdrew....
Priscus wrote years later that “The Hierophant liked [Julian] but thought he was doomed, or so he told me years later. The Hierophant was an interesting man….he realized with extraordinary clarity that our old world was ended. There were times I think he took pleasure in knowing he was the last of a line that extended back two thousand years. Men are odd. If they cannot be first, they don’t in the least mind being last.”"
And thank you for the quote from the Gore Vidal work! That is also very important. The Hierophant's storyline encompasses profound implications pertaining to societal changes, the gradual erosion of long-established traditions, and the struggle to protect ancestral heritage against inevitable alterations. Observe the diminishing influence and importance of historical figures in positions of power, contrasted with the enduring existence of sycophantic behavior discussed in the preceding article, particularly within today's society.
I earnestly desire that through raising awareness of this matter, individuals will initiate transformative actions that reinstate sanctity, counteracting its desecration.
Regarding books, currently I am not aware of any literature that specifically delves into the subject of hierophants. It is possible that there may be individuals who possess knowledge in this area, but I can offer a few recommendations that touch upon the topic of hierophants within their broader scope of study:
https://www.amazon.com/Prolegomena-Study-Greek-Religion-Mythos/dp/0691015147/
https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Magus-Canto-original/dp/0521437776
The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion By James George Frazer Vol. VII. of XII
https://www.amazon.com/Pope-Hierophant-Eliphas-Levi/dp/1163039608 - This one is talking about the Tarot card but also covers some historacity
Surprisingly, my knowledge of the Hierophant was acquired indirectly, while delving into historical subjects tangentially related to my original research topic. Despite my extensive reading, I have not yet encountered any dedicated works focusing solely on ancient hierophants, which presents an intriguing opportunity for an author seeking a distinctive and captivating subject to explore. If you navigate to Google Scholar and conduct a search for hierophants, you may come across a few intriguing articles regarding the topic. However, it will be necessary to sift through a plethora of irrelevant material, and obtaining access to the specific article mentioned can be a cumbersome task at times.
Regarding the subject of hierophant versus sycophant, as far as my awareness extends, I seem to be the sole individual to have raised this matter; however, it is improbable that I am the only one to have recognized the resemblances in their nomenclature and the intriguing "reveler of" aspect which I elucidate in the aforementioned article. Despite this, conducting research for the said article proved to be exceedingly challenging.
Thank you! I will check out those links. It does seem like an interesting area worthy of further exploration.
A few decades ago, immediately after my graduation, I assumed the role of an adjunct professor without having a clear understanding of my career options. Depending on the individual you inquire, you may hear that I gracefully departed the institution or was politely asked to resign from this position by the top brass. This resulted from witnessing the detrimental influences of academia on the younger generation and my efforts to impart enlightening guidance to them.
The primary lesson I have acquired from academia is the daunting challenge of remedying something that has been subjected to years of deliberate corruption. Nevertheless, within my online writings, I persist in cultivating my own knowledge and imparting the insights I have gathered throughout my journey.
In the future, if it is of interest to my audience, I can write an article or two on the topic of homeschooling and the limitless possibilities of self-education.
Certainly. Mainstream conservatives are currently occupied with preserving entities that are in need of natural deterioration. Instead, we should focus on constructing novel and superior establishments. My recommendation is to start from scratch and build it up systematically.