Initiation Collection

Initiation of a freemason
The initiation ceremony of a freemason (central detail); watercolour in the Musee du Grand Orient de France de la Franc-Maconnerie Europeene. Date: 19th Century

Freemason Procession
Image of Baphomet carried in a procession at the initiation of a high Scottish rite

ITALY. Pompeii. Villa of Mysteries. Scenes of initiation to a Bacchian rite. Detail with a naked danser. Roman art. Painting; Fresco

Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. Scene cult initiation, 16
Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. Inside. Scene cult initiation, 1675. Engraving by Dutch Hooglhe Romeyn (1645-1708). Baroque. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Netherlands

Initiation ceremony of a Freemason (19th c. )
Initiation ceremony of a Freemason (19th c.). Central detail. Watercolour. FRANCE. Paris. Mus饠 du Grand Orient de France et de la Franc-Ma篮 nerie Europ饮 ne

Female Initiation - 6
A candidate is initiated as Mistress of the Temple, lying on a supposed corpse and restoring him to life with the warmth of her body. Date: 1891

Secret Societies (nineteenth century). Initiation ceremony of a new member. Colored engraving

Initiation to Master
A French Lodge ceremonially inducts a member to the grade of Master

Initiation / Secret Master
Initiation of a Secret Master

Ancient Persian priests performing ritual sacrifices
Ancient Persian priests in white robes performing ritual sacrifices at a pyre. Pireo e Sacerdoti Persi. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giovanni Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrarios Costumes

The Witchs Frolic by Alfred Bestall
The witchs frolic, taking place on Hallowe en, the date when Saman, Lord of Death, called together the spirits of all the wicked dead who in the last twelve months had been condemned to inhabit

Italy, Pompeii. Villa of the Mysteries. Ancient Roman suburban Villa. Frescoes depicting a bride initiating into a Bacchian Mysteries in preparation for marriage, 1st century AD. Date: 2014

Initiation Hall of the Mysteries, Eleusis, Greece

Initiation ceremony of disciples of Zoroastrianism
Initiation ceremonies of gabr or disciples of Zoroastrianism in ancient Persia. A priest pours water in a babys mouth, washes a child and holds another over a pyre. Iniziazione de Guebri

The Eleusinian Mysteries, initiations for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis, Greece. The goddess Ceres sits on the Puteal on the Callirhoe well surrounded by dancing virgins

Bacchic initiation rites
Bacchic rite. Women offering figs on platters to Bacchus, and seated woman in an initiation rite accompanied by a genius of Ceres (boy with wings)

Sir W W Wynn initiated at the Eisteddfod, Porthmadog, Wales
Sir W W Wynn initiated as an Ovate at the Eisteddfod, Porthmadog, North Wales. Date: 1872

MANDAN HANGING CUSTOM
NATIVE AMERICANS The cutting of young warriors of the Mandan people, hanging from strips of flesh which slowly and painfully tear... Date: 1830s

EGYPTIAN INITIATION
In Ancient Egypt, candidates for the priesthood are subjected to a series of ordeals to prove their suitability Date: BC

TURKISH CIRCUMCISEE
A Turkish boy is dressed for the circumcision ceremony Date: circa 1720

TRADES UNION INITIATION
Initiation into a TRADE UNION - due to official hostility (unionists were perceived as revolutionaries) the earliest unions conducted themselves like secret societies Date: circa 1835

Aboriginal initiation ceremony involving tooth-avulsion called Yoo-lahng erah-ba-diahng in New South Wales. From: An account of the English colony in New South Wales Date: 1798

Initiation of the Knight Kadosh
Taking the left hand of the blindfolded candidate and placing it on the beating body of a sheep, the deceived candidate is then expected to plunge a knife into what he believes is the body of a

Freemason Initiation
The initiation of an apprentice Date: 1890s

Taurobolium Altar. National Archaeological Museum. Athens. G
Taurobolium Altar (360-370) with relief depicting the goddess Cybele enthroned with Demeter (right) flanked by Persephone Kore and Iacchus. Probably from Chalandri. National Archaeological Museum

The Templars
At the initiation of each Templar, the Christ, on a crucifix, is renounced. Those attending are obliged to spit and trample on him. 1890s

Female Initiation - 3
A candidate is initiated as a Mistress : blindfolded, she is placed on the Tower of Babel, much to her confusion when the blindfold is removed. Date: 1891

The Ladys Lodge - Palladium Rite
Initiation ceremony of the Companion of Penelope. The betrayed brother reproaches both Penelope and Lucrece. 1890s

Circumcision, Africa
Circumcision ceremony in an African village : a line of youths await the ritual mutilation which will mark their initiation into the adults of the tribe

Carbonari Initiated / 1820
New members are initiated into the Carbonari, the Italian nationalist secret society. The oath of initiation was based on that of the Freemasons

African Circumcision
Circumcision is a crucial rite of passage in most African societies, the occasion for solemn ceremonies such as this tribal procession in south or west Africa

Cinerary urn with reliefs depicting Heracles (Hercules) beginning in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Detail. White marble. From the columbarium near Porta Maggiore

Caricature, Lord Salisbury and W E Gladstone, rival political leaders -- Lord Salisbury eats the leek (representing a parliamentary amendment). 1881

Racial / Mandan Bull Dance
NATIVE AMERICANS The Last Race in which the young initiate warriors compete in a race until they collapse Date: circa 1830

Babende Secret Society
A Makenge, leading figure in the Babende, a secret society of the Bangongo, a sub-tribe of the Bushongo in Musumba, Lower Congo, dancing at an initiation ceremony Date: 1913

His Initiation, by Bairnsfather
His Initiation No 99988 Private Blobs (on sentry-go) feels that he has at last stumbled across the true explanation of that somewhat cryptic expression

Malawi Dancers
Malawi Africans dancing, as they do for all important occasions, such as weddings, initiation ceremonies, etc. Date: 1960s

Initiation into the mysterious Dionysion cult

The York Rite
Initiation to the rank of Mark-Mason 1890s

The Androgynous Rite of Felicitations
When a Sister is initiated, the President of the Lodge places her in his seat and demands, whilst on one knee, that she swears an oath of fidelity to the Masons on a rose. Date: 1890s

Initiation of the Sovereign Commander of the Temple
At the end of the procession, the candidate is release from the cords that bind him to show the difference between being a slave and a free man. Date: 1890s

Initiation of the Prince of the Royal - Secret
" The Mason Army camps whilst waiting for the definitive assault" says the Brother charged with explaining the grand battle plan tot eh new candidate. 1890s

Female Initiation - 1
A female candidate is initiated as an Apprentice, crossing a see-saw which symbolises the danger of the faux-pas. Date: 1891

Female Initiation - 2
A candidate is initiated as a Companion : in a bush which represents the Garden of Eden, she strokes the serpent, bites the apple and submits to the reproaches of her guide. Date: 1891

Female Initiation - 5
A candidate is initiated into the Sublime Scottish Rite, vowing on her scimitar to honour the Modern Rite of Adoption. Date: 1891

Brotherley Surveillance
After the Paris Commune, the Lodge of Perfect Equality set traps for individuals suspected of insurrection under the pretext of initiations

Initiation of the Sovereign Inspector General
The recipient is required to wash his hands in a vase of molten lead aftering having been led three times round the vase. Date: 1890s

The Ladys Lodge - Rite of Passage
Initiation ceremony for the Perfect Mistress also known as the Bird of Mystery. Date: 1890s

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping