The History of Initiation

Written by George Oliver
Published in 2008
Hardcover


Originally published in 1841, The History of Initiation is comprised of twelve lectures that detail the Rites and Ceremonies, and Doctrines and Disciplines of all the Secret and Mysterious Institutions of the Ancient World. Each lecture is full of extensive and elaborate footnotes, providing a wealth of additional information.

The lectures are as follows:

• General Introduction - Touches on Enoch, Osiris, Typhon, the Essenes
• History of Initiation in Hindostan - Including the Creator Preserver and Destroyer, Vedas (Bagavad Gita), Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
• Philosophy of the Eastern Mysteries
• Initiation in Persia - Zoroaster, Mithras, the 7 Stages of Initiation
• History of Initiation in Greece - the Mystery Schools, Dionysius, Bacchus, the Pythagoreans, Hermes Trismigestus
• Ceremonies of Initiation into the Mysteries of Bacchus
• Places of Initiation into the Celtic Mysteries - Druids, Hyperboreans
• Ceremonies of Initiation in Britain - Ceridwen
• Symbols and Doctrines of the Druids
• History of Initiation into the Gothic Mysteries
• Doctrines and Morality
• History of Initiation in America (Central and Southern America including Mexico)