Arriving at Pireaus about the season of the Mysteries, when Athens is more crowded than any place in Greece, he lost no time in going up to the city from his ship. As he went he met many of the learned making their way down to Piraeus. Some were basking naked—the autumn is fine and sunny at Athens— others were deep in discussions upon a text, some practicing recitations, some disputing. None of them passed him by, but all guessing that this was Apollonius, turned back with him and hailed him with enthusiasm. A party of ten youths fell in with him, who stretched out their hands towards the Acropolis and swore ‘by yonder Athena, they were just setting out for Piraeus to take ship for Ionia and find him there.’ He welcomed them, and said he congratulated them on their desire for learning. It was the day of the Epidauria; and at the Epidauria the Athenian usage, after the Preface and the sacrifice, is to initiate aspirants for a second sacrifice. This tradition represents Asclepius’ experience, because he came from Epidaurus, late in the Mysteries, and they initiated him. Heedless of the initiation service, the multitude hung round Apollonius, more concerned with this than to secure admission to the Elect. He said he would be with them anon, and encouraged them to attend the service for the meanwhile, as he himself intended to be initiated. But the hierophant refused him access to the holy things, saying that he would never admit a charlatan, nor open Eleusis to a man of impure theology. Apollonius was equal to himself on this occasion, and said, ‘You have not yet mentioned the greatest charge that might be brought against me, which is that I know more than you about this rite, although I came to you as to a man better skilled than myself.’ The bystanders applauded this vigorous and characteristic rebuke; and the hierophant, seeing that the excommunication was unpopular, changed his tune and said, ‘You shall be admitted, for you seem to be a person of doctrine.’ Apollonius answered, ‘I will be admitted at another time; the ceremony will be performed by So-and-so’— prophetically naming the next occupant of the hierophancy, who succeeded to his sacred office four years later. (Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana, Book IV, Chapters 17–18, in the Loeb Classical Library edition, translated by F.C. Conybeare.)
