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{{short description|Religious function}}
The role of the '''hierophant''' in religion is to bring the congregants into the presence of that which is deemed ''holy.'' The word comes from ], where it was constructed from the combination of ''ta hiera,'' "the holy," and ''phainein,'' "to show." In ] it was the title of the chief ] at the ].
{{for multi|the tarot card|The Hierophant|the album|The Hierophant (album)}}
] and ], 2nd century AD, ] ].]]


A '''hierophant''' ({{langx|grc|ἱεροφάντης|hierophantēs}}) is a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed '']''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/hierophant|title=hierophant {{!}} Greek priest|access-date=2016-09-10}}</ref> As such, a hierophant is an interpreter of ] and ] principles.
known Hierophants:
*]
*]
*]


The word comes from ], where it was constructed from the combination of ''{{lang|grc|τὰ ἱερά}}'' (''ta hiera'', 'the holy') and ''{{lang|grc|φαίνω}}'' (''phainō'', 'to reveal').
==Tarot==


==Greek priesthood==
In ], ] is one of the twenty-two trump cards comprising the ], and represents the guide towards knowledge, insight and wisdom. In a tarot reading it might for example represent a priest, scholar, therapist or teacher.


In ], ''Hierophant'' was the title of the chief ] at the ]. It was an office inherited within the ] of the ], one of the two main clans which managed the Eleusinian cult - the other being the Cerycids.
==Popular culture==
*In the first and second editions of the '']'' ], "hierophant" was the highest ranking a ] could achieve. In the third edition, it is a ] available to any divine spellcaster (typically druids and ]s); its abilities revolve around improving the spellcaster's abilities, such as manipulation of energy to heal or harm others and affect ], aiding others by transferring powers to them, and improving spellcasting ability. "Hierophant" is also included in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' version 3.5.


] and ] are notable examples.
*In the fantasy world of ], the Hierophant is amongst the largest and most formidable of the ] Bio creatures faced by ground forces.


==In modern culture==
*Guitarist ]'s album ] is all inspired by Tarot cards - the last song is called ''Shadow of the Hierophant''.
===Rider Waite tarot===
In the ] and similar decks, "]" (known in the ] as "The Pope"<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1TuVP1YcE0oC|title=The Pictorial Key to the Tarot|last=Waite|first=A. E.|date=2012-03-06|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486117126|language=en}}</ref>) is one of the twenty-two trump cards comprising the "]", and represents conformity to social standards, or a deference to the established social moral order. As the guide towards knowledge, insight, and wisdom, in a Tarot reading it might, for example, represent a priest, scholar, therapist, or teacher, possibly similar to ] or the ] cards.


] wrote that the Hierophant:<blockquote>...symbolizes also all things that are righteous and sacred on the manifest side. As such, he is the channel of grace belonging to the world of institution as distinct from that of Nature, and he is the leader of salvation for the human race at large. He is the order and the head of the recognized hierarchy, which is the reflection of another and greater hierarchic order; but it may so happen that the pontiff forgets the significance of his symbolic state and acts as if he contained within his proper measures all that his sign signifies or his symbol seeks to shew forth. He is not, as it has been thought, philosophy—except on the theological side; he is not inspiration; and his is not religion, although he is a mode of its expression.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
*The ]s in ]'s novella "]" (filmed as '']'') are often referred to as "Hierophants".


=== In ''Dungeons & Dragons'' ===
*A popular fan site dedicated to ] is titled "The Heirophant" '''', named after the first cycle of his album '']''.
The original '']'' supplement to 1st edition AD&D detailed how the 15th-level Grand Druid (the in-game head of all druids) could step down from his position and become a 16th-level Hierophant.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gygax |first=Gary |title=Unearthed Arcana |year=1985 |isbn=0880380845 |page=17}}</ref> In 3rd edition D&D, the hierophant ] for high-level divine spellcasters appeared in the '']'' and in the 3.5e '']''.


==See also==
*In the ] role-playing game '']'' (New World of Darkness), the Hierophant is the spiritual leader within a given city for the covenant known as the Circle of the Crone.
*{{wikt-inline|hierophant}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ], "bridge-builder" between ] and ] or between the spiritual world and the temporal one
* ]


==References==
*In the '']'' sequel novel '']'', the ''Unyielding Hierophant'' was a ] space station so vastly large its gravity could be manipulated to resemble an ] painting. It was used as a rendezvous point for Covenant ships in order to amass for the invasion of Earth. It was destroyed by the last remaining ]s.
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
*In the ] '']'', the Hierophant is a type of ] card which allows the user to issue one mental command to the victim.
*
*
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516030950/http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/bldefhierophant.htm |date=2008-05-16 }}


{{authority control}}
*In the arcade video game '']'', The Hierophant (Type B 05) is a demon humanoid with gills, and one of the bosses.
]
]
]
]


*In the arcade game ''] III'', the "Hierophant" is a playable character.

*In the novel '']'' by ], Alex Halo's true identity is the ] Hierophant.

*In the novel '']'' by ], the Hierophant leads the "Wallflower Order," a secret society dedicated to the containment of the "Jes Grew" epidemic.

*In the ] '']'', "hierophant" is the name for the third class character change for Prophets.

*The '']'' features a monthly column of paranormal ] written by "The Hierophant".

==See also==
*]

]
]


{{AncientGreek-reli-stub}}
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 02:43, 29 October 2024

Religious function For the tarot card, see The Hierophant. For the album, see The Hierophant (album).
Votive relief dedicated to a hierophant of Demeter and Persephone, 2nd century AD, Ancient Agora of Athens Museum Greece.

A hierophant (Ancient Greek: ἱεροφάντης, romanizedhierophantēs) is a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy. As such, a hierophant is an interpreter of sacred mysteries and arcane principles.

The word comes from ancient Greece, where it was constructed from the combination of τὰ ἱερά (ta hiera, 'the holy') and φαίνω (phainō, 'to reveal').

Greek priesthood

In Attica, Hierophant was the title of the chief priest at the Eleusinian Mysteries. It was an office inherited within the genos of the Eumolpidae, one of the two main clans which managed the Eleusinian cult - the other being the Cerycids.

Eunapius and Vettius Agorius Praetextatus are notable examples.

In modern culture

Rider Waite tarot

In the Rider–Waite tarot deck and similar decks, "The Hierophant" (known in the Tarot de Marseille as "The Pope") is one of the twenty-two trump cards comprising the "Major Arcana", and represents conformity to social standards, or a deference to the established social moral order. As the guide towards knowledge, insight, and wisdom, in a Tarot reading it might, for example, represent a priest, scholar, therapist, or teacher, possibly similar to the Hermit or the King of Cups cards.

A. E. Waite wrote that the Hierophant:

...symbolizes also all things that are righteous and sacred on the manifest side. As such, he is the channel of grace belonging to the world of institution as distinct from that of Nature, and he is the leader of salvation for the human race at large. He is the order and the head of the recognized hierarchy, which is the reflection of another and greater hierarchic order; but it may so happen that the pontiff forgets the significance of his symbolic state and acts as if he contained within his proper measures all that his sign signifies or his symbol seeks to shew forth. He is not, as it has been thought, philosophy—except on the theological side; he is not inspiration; and his is not religion, although he is a mode of its expression.

In Dungeons & Dragons

The original Unearthed Arcana supplement to 1st edition AD&D detailed how the 15th-level Grand Druid (the in-game head of all druids) could step down from his position and become a 16th-level Hierophant. In 3rd edition D&D, the hierophant prestige class for high-level divine spellcasters appeared in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and in the 3.5e Dungeon Master's Guide.

See also

References

  1. "hierophant | Greek priest". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  2. ^ Waite, A. E. (2012-03-06). The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. Courier Corporation. ISBN 9780486117126.
  3. Gygax, Gary (1985). Unearthed Arcana. p. 17. ISBN 0880380845.

External links


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