EPHOD. A vestment worn by the Jewish high-priest over the tunic and the robe. It was without sleeves, and open below the arms on each side, consisting of two pieces, one of which covered the front of the body and the other the back, and reaching down to the middle of the thighs. They were joined together on the shoulders by golden buckles set with gems, and two large precious stones set in gold, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, six on each stone, according to their order. The material of which the ephod was wrought was extremely costly and magnificent ; gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with rich embroidery. A girdle or band, of one piece with the ephod, fastened it round the body. Just above this girdle, in the middle of the ephod, and joined to it by golden chains, rings, and strings, rested the square oracular breast plate, originally intended to be worn by the high-priest ex clusively. Ephods of an inferior material were in use among
the ordinary priests. Even David, when bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, was "girt with a linen ephod." The Jews had a peculiar superstitious regard for this gar ment, and employed it in connection with idolatrous worship, and held that no worship, true or false, could subsist without its presence.
EPOPT.cE. A Greek word, formed from epi and optamai, I see, or rather, look upon. It was the name given to those who were initiated into the mysteries of Eleusis, to distinguish them from the mustw—disciples—who had only been received into the lesser. It signifies the "spectators of the mysteries," or the illuminated. Epopt was also used by the Illuminati, to distinguish the members of the sixth_ degree.