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In Search of the Greeks (Second Edition) > Galleries > Sites ordered by name > Eleusis

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Eleusis

Eleusis was a small town about 14 miles south-west of the centre of Athens; it was here that the Eleusinian Mysteries took place.  The remains of the sanctuary are still well worth visiting today.

Click on the links below for images of the site.

Resources

  1. The Greater Propylaia. This ceremonial entranceway was built in the 2nd century CE by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It was an exact copy of the central section of the Propylaia of the Athenian Acropolis. Beneath this Greater Propylaia lies the entrance to the sanctuary in the classical period
  2. Near to the Greater Propylaia is the Well of the Fair Dances. According to myth, it was here that Demeter rested as she searched for her daughter Persephone. This was celebrated by a special festival with dances performed by maidens from Eleusis. The well-head was first made in the 6th century BCE, and all later structures in the sanctuary respected this sacred area
  3. The Lesser Propylaia. This was the main entrance to the sanctuary before it was extended in the 2nd century CE. It was built in 54 BCE over the top of the entrance to the sanctuary from the 6th century BCE, when the tyrant Peisistratos had developed the sanctuary
  4. This Caryatid formed part of the Lesser Propylaia which was built in 54 BCE
  5. Near to the Lesser Propylaia are the remains of the walls built in the time of Peisistratos
  6. Also close to the Lesser Propylaia is the Plutonion. This cave was believed to be the entrance to the Underworld, and where Pluto took Persephone down to his kingdom below. There was a temple to Pluto in front of the cave
  7. The Telesterion. The remains of the hall of the initiates still give a good idea of its size. 3,000 initiates could apparently fit in here
  8. On one side of the Telesterion, seating can still be seen
  9. At the southern end of the site are the walls of Lycurgus, which were built when the site was extended in the 4th century BCE
  10. This is the largest and most important votive relief found in Eleusis. On the left, Demeter is wearing a peplos and holding a sceptre in her left hand; she offers ears of wheat to Triptolemos for him to give to mankind. On the right, Persephone is wearing a tunic and holding a torch as she blesses Triptolemos with her right hand. The relief, which dates to c.440-430, was apparently famous in antiquity, and there were a number of copies in the Roman period
  11. This red-figure plate, dating to the second half of the 4th century BCE, depicts scenes from the Eleusinian Mysteries. The figures in the main scene are arranged in two rows. At the top, Demeter, seated on the secret cista, Persephone, standing and holding the torches, and the torchbearer Iakchos respectively below, receive the procession of initiates, men and women, arriving at the sanctuary
  12. This votive relief, dating to the early part of the 5th century BCE, depicts Demeter seated on a throne while holding a sceptre and ears of corn. Opposite her, Demeter stands and holds torches