The Orphic Mysteries were ancient religious rites and beliefs centered around the figure of Orpheus, a legendary musician and poet in Greek mythology. These mysteries emphasized themes of life, death, and rebirth, often focusing on the soul's journey after death. Followers believed in the immortality of the soul and sought spiritual enlightenment through secretive rituals and teachings. Participants in the Orphic Mysteries engaged in various practices, including purification rites and the recitation of hymns. The teachings often included elements of Pythagoreanism, such as the belief in the transmigration of souls. The mysteries played a significant role in the development of later philosophical and religious thought in ancient Greece.