Traces of Tribal Puberty Initiation in Arcadian Religion: a Survey of Pausanias´ Tales

Abstract

This article explores one possible area of continuity from ancient times in Arkadian religion, namely how myths may reflect Arkadian rituals for inclusion of young girls and boys into society. In Pausanias' eighth book, we find at least 20 narratives about deities, heroes and kings' sons and daughters and more than 100 additional phenomena typical for such coming-of-age rituals: Hunting/chasing/wooing, abduction/rape/holy wedding with or without resulting childbirth, beauty contests, body scars, transdressing, hair-cutting, swimming, bathing, episodes of madness and purification. The myths, i.e. the ceremonies, take place in caves, springs and rivers, and involve nymphs and nurses. Myths involve dancing, contests and specific musical instruments. Both participants and gods assume the form of such animals as horses, bears, wolves, birds, deer and fish. Artemis is mostly represented as protectress of young children, and so are Apollon, Hera and Athena, while Poseidon, Zeus, Hermes, Pan, Asklepios and Athena are born, and/or reared in Arkadia. Demeter and Poseidon celebrate holy weddings in disguise and have children. My assumption is that puberty initiation was a very important celebration in past as well as contemporary tribal societies and always involves ancestors and deities. Traces of the initiatory complex are found not so much in archaeological documents as in the structure of the tales of the society which explain the cultural inheritance. Pan- Hellenic as well as native Arkadian deities play an abundant part in the tales reflecting passage rites in Pausanias' eighth book.