Harvard Theological Review
- Harvard Theological Review / Volume 68 / Issue 02 / April 1975, pp 73-82
- Copyright © President and Fellows of Harvard College 1975
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0017816000017065 (About DOI), Published online: 10 June 2011
Research Article
The Unutterable Symbols of (Γ
)-Θέμις
Louis Robertsa1
a1 Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210
In his Protreptikos (2,22) Clement of Alexandria rages against the contents of the mystic chests used in the rites of the mystery religions. Among other items he lists such things as cakes, salt balls, the serpent, and adds as though an afterthought, “the ἀπόῤῥητα σύμβολα of (Γ)-Θἐμις, ὀρίγανον a lamp, a sword, and a κτεὶς γυναικεῖος, which is a euphemism used in the mysteries for the female parts.” What was the association of these objects with (Γ)-Θέμις? What evidence might Clement have had for such an association?
