hierophant

Definitions

1. An ancient Greek priest who interpreted sacred mysteries, especially the priest of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
2. An interpreter of sacred mysteries or arcane knowledge.
3. One who explains or makes a commentary.

Equivalents

9 more languages

Ελληνικάιεροφάντης

Galegohierofante

Italianoierofante

日本語聖師

Nederlandshiërofantopperpriester

Polskipapież

Portuguêshierofante

Românăhierofant

Русскийиерофа́нт

Examples

“The exhibition of ancient statues, relics, and symbols, concealed from daily adoration (as in the Catholic festivals of this day), probably, made a main duty of the Hierophant.”

“If books are as provocative as you suggest⟳, one would expect⟳ every librarian to utter the shrill screams of a hierophant, to clash ecstatic castanets in his silent alcoves!”

“Most scholars name⟳ the rectangular enclosure anaktoron, locate⟳ in it the throne of the hierophant, and suppose⟳ that from it emanated the central revelation which occurred, in Plutarch's phrase, ‘when the anaktora were opened’.”

“Thus I became the hierophant of those three worthy and talented men, who, in spite of their literary accomplishments, were not wise, since they were infatuated with occult and fabulous sciences, and believed in the existence of phenomena impossible in the moral as well as in the physical order⟳ of things.”

“What did even the hierophants of science know⟳ of the potencies of, for them, unvintageable evil?”

“Ambassadors of northern countries stand⟳ / Impassive while our hierophants intone / Long canticles of Christ the Contraband: / Our grandees' hearts are shrunk to kidney stones.”

“No, I must play⟳ creator / And make⟳ them up, these hierophants.”

CEFR level