Socrates, and Plato after him had direct ties to the Eleusinian Mysteries of the Greeks as did most great and important people of the time.  Other great philosophers along with Socrates and Plato, who were initiates included Aristotle, Aristophanes, Cicero, Plutarch and Pindar, all were participants in the Greater and Lesser mysteries conducted in the Spring and the Fall in the vicinity of the Parthenon in Athens.

These mysteries limited the initiation to a just once in a life time experience were open to those of high moral character. The mysteries were designed to reveal the true nature of the soul and remove the fear of death through self realization and spiritual visions.