'' 1881 In
ancient Greek religion,
orgia (ὄργια, sing. ὄργιον,
orgion) were
ecstatic rites characteristic of the
Greek and Hellenistic mystery religions. Unlike public religion, or the private religious practices of a household, the mysteries were open only to initiates, and were thus "secret". Some rites were held at night.
Orgia were part of the
Eleusinian Mysteries, the
Dionysian Mysteries, and the cult of
Cybele, which involved the
castration of her priests in a frenzied trance. Because of their secret, nocturnal, and unscripted nature, the
orgia were subject to prurient speculation and regarded with suspicion, particularly
by the Romans, who attempted to
suppress the Bacchanals in 186 BC.
Orgia are popularly thought to have involved sex, but, while
sexuality and fertility were cultic concerns, the primary goal of the
orgia was to achieve an ecstatic union with the divine. The
Adamites were also accused of participating in orgies. ==See also==