Located in West Attica, ancient Eleusis overlooks the bay of Elefsina and the island of Salamis, approximately 17 kilometres from Athens. It was the location of a very important religious centre where the Eleusinian Mysteries took place every year in honour of the goddess Demeter.
The settlement of Eleusis was founded in the Middle Helladic period (ca. 1900 BC) on the slopes of a hill. Successive settlements were established from the 16th century BC onwards on the summit of the hill where the first temple of Demeter was built in the 15th century BC. The cult of Demeter was introduced during the reign of the legendary King Celeus according to the Homeric Hymn to Demeter.
According to Greek mythology, the goddess Demeter (in the guise of an old woman) received a hospitable welcome from King Celeus at Eleusis while searching for her daughter Kore (Persephone) who had been abducted by Hades. In return Demeter taught the Eleusinians her secret mysteries. After Kore was returned from the underworld, Demeter made the land fertile again and taught Triptolemos, the son of King Celeus, how to cultivate the earth. He then spread the knowledge throughout Greece.
The great Eleusinian relief. On the left Demeter offers ears of wheat to Triptolemos, son of Eleusinian king Keleos, to bestow on mankind. On the right Persephone blesses Triptolemos with her right hand.
The cult of Demeter originally started as a local cult but acquired a panhellenic character in the 7th century BC when the Eleusinian Mysteries were established as one of the most important Athenian festivals. The ceremonies were held twice a year. There were two major stages to the rituals known as the “Lesser Mysteries” held each spring, and the “Great Mysteries” held during the months of September and October. The continuity of Demeter’s cult is attested until Roman times by the erection of successive temples on the east side of the hill. Hadrian, himself an initiate, began a major programme of building works with the creation of the Panhellenion.
What the visitor sees today is the sanctuary in its final stages in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The finds from the site are housed in the Eleusis Museum as well as in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Model of the Sanctuary of Eleusis.
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The entrance square to the sanctuary dating to the Roman period and paved with large rectangular marble slabs. The steps lead up to the Greater Propylaia.The court was flanked by stoas and a fountain, a harmonious marble building 11 metres in length with six columns on the facade. It was probably built during the reign of Hadrian. Behind the fountain stand the remains of the Eastern Triumphal Arch.The remains of the Eastern Triumphal Arch built in Pentelic marble by Antoninus Pius or Marcus Aurelius. It was modelled on the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, like its twin at the west end of the Sanctuary.Partial reconstruction of the Eastern Triumphal Arch. Inscriptions revealed that the arches were dedicated to the two Goddesses (Demeter and Persephone) and the emperor Hadrian.The foundations of the Western Triumphal Arch marking the end of the road from Megara. It was a single wide arch with a second storey of columns and an entablature above it.The remains of the Temple of Artemis Propylaia and Poseidon Pater standing on the paved court on a the high podium. Built of Pentelic marble during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, it had a front and rear portico with Doric columns.The Greater Propylaea, a monumental gate probably built by Marcus Aurelius on the same site as an earlier gate from the time of Kimon. It formed the main entrance to the sanctuary.The Greater Propylaea was a close copy of the Propylaia of the Acropolis in Athens consisting of two porches, each with a facade of six Doric columns.The architectural elements (triglyphs and metopes) that formed the Greater Propylaea, a monumental gate probably built by Marcus Aurelius.This cuirassed bust of an emperor was installed at the centre of the pediment of the Greater Propylaea. Although the face is badly damaged, it is thought to be a portrait of the emperor Marcus Aurelius who built the Greater Propylaea.The Lesser Propylaea, a small gateway to the Sanctuary built by Appius Claudius Pulcher in 54 BC.The entablature of the Lesser Propylaea had an Ionic architrave on which was cut the Latin dedicatory inscription and a frieze of triglyphs and metopes embellished with wheat-sheaves, bucrania, and stylized double poppies.The upper part of one of the caryatids that flanked the Lesser Propylaea. On its head it carries the kiste, the sacred chest decorated in relief with the symbols of the Eleunisian cult: ears of wheat, poppies, rosettes (Eleusis Museum).The Sanctuary of Pluto (Hades), god of the Underworld, who abducted Persephone. It is situated to the west of the Lesser Propylaea. The cavern recalls the entrance to the underworld.The Temple of Pluto is Archaic in date but was remodeled on many occasions from the 4th century BC down to Roman times. It was a small temple with cella and pronaos opening east and a peribolos wall.Flight of steps cut into the east side of the rock along the Processional Way.Overall view of the Telesterion, the “place for initiation”. It was the central building of the sanctuary where pilgrims were initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries.Serving as the initiation Hall and Temple for the Eleusinian Mysteries, the Telesterion was a large hypostyle hall with seats on all four sides where the faithful sat and watched the rituals.The earliest building traces on the site of the Telesterion are of a Mycenaean megaron opening east. This was replaced by a Geometric building, and by Solon’s time (ca. 600 BC) a rectangular hall, probably columned, running southwest-northeast had been built to accommodate a larger number of participants.The Stoa of Philo built by the Eleusinian architect Philo in the mid-4th century BC in the Doric order in order to extend the Telesterion by the addition of a semi-open space.The fortification wall and circular corner-tower dating to the 4th century BC.Kallichoron Well, according to the myth it was here that Demeter rested as she searched for her daughter Kore. Here dances to Demeter and Kore were once performed, hence the name meaning Well of the Fair Dances.Eleusis MuseumStatue of Antinous represented as Asklepios, found in the outer court of the sanctuary which it apparently adorned. Antinous accompanied Hadrian during his attendance at the annual Eleusinian Mysteries. (Archaeological Museum of Eleusis).
Just a few kilometers away from Stratonicea was the ancient cult site of Lagina, one of the most important Carian sanctuaries. A 11 km long road called the Sacred Way (ceremonial road) connected the two sites. The establishment of the sanctuary at Lagina as a religious centre dates back to the Seleucids but evidence from the necropolis implies that the origins of the settlement go back to the 7th century BC.
The deity worshipped at the sanctuary was the goddess Hecate. She was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was also associated with crossroads and entrance-ways. In statuary, Hecate was often depicted in triple form, either with three bodies or three heads. Numerous festivals were celebrated at the site during which a procession delivered the key of the temple from Lagina to the bouleuterion in Stratonicea on which the rules of the religious celebrations of Hecate were written.
The sculptural decorations that once adorned the temple are now on display in the Archaeology Museum in Istanbul. They covered all four sides of the building, with scenes representing the episodes from Zeus’ life circle, the battle of gods and giants (Gigantomachy), the mythical battle between the Ancient Greeks and the Amazons (Amazonomachy) as well as scenes from Carian mythology.
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The temple of Hecate stood in the centre of the sacred precinct. It was constructed in 2nd century BC.The architectural type of the Temple was pseudodipteral, in the Corinthian order, with a peristyle of 11 columns by 8.The Corinthian columns of the Temple of Hecate.The paving of the peristyle in front of the Temple.Corinthian column from the Temple of Hecate.The Sanctuary of Hecate..The propylaea (monumental gateway) with a semicircular colonnade at the front.A stairway with ten steps led from the propylaea to a paved way and then to the altar.The stairway with ten steps leading from the propylaea to the Temple.The precinct surrounding the temple was ca. 150 by 135 m. It was enclosed by a stoa in the Doric order.The south side of the Stoa was raised on a flight of 11 steps, with a staircase at the west end.The temple of Hecate.
