The Mythology of Eleusis

The worship of two major deities of the Greek pantheon, Demeter and Persephone, has been directly linked since prehistoric times to Eleusis, the sacred city of Attica, one of the most important religious centers in Greece, which retained its sanctity for two millennia and spread the worship of the Eleusinian gods throughout the ancient world. The oldest written text referring to the primitive worship of Demeter is the Homeric Hymn (second half of the 7th century BC)4, which recounts the passions and deeds of the goddess, according to the local tradition of Eleusis: Hades, with the consent of Zeus, kidnapped Demeter's daughter Persephone while she was playing with the Oceanids in a flowery meadow. Because neither mortal nor immortal heard her voice, Demeter, accompanied by Hecate, went to Helios and begged him, as the overseer of the earth, to inform her of her daughter's fate. Helios confessed the truth, and the goddess was so angry with Zeus, the father of the gods, that she did not return to Olympus. After transforming herself into an old woman, she wandered through cities and fields, unknown among humans. Then she arrived in Eleusis and sat down at the "Parthenion well," "where the citizens were watered in the shade," known as the Kallichoro well. There she was met by the four daughters of the king of Eleusis, Keleos, who asked her where she had come from and why she was not seeking hospitality in the city. The goddess, concealing her identity, replied that she was from Crete, that she had been captured by bandits, that she had escaped from Thorikos, and begged to be allowed to serve, as befits a woman of her age, in a house in Eleusis and raise a child, if someone would entrust one to her.

Early Helladic - Middle Helladic - Late Helladic Period. (before 2000 - 1100 BC)

- The few Early Helladic pottery shards and the conical flask in the museum date back to before 2000 BC and prove that the hill of Eleusis has been inhabited since that time.
- The Middle Helladic culture of Eleusis resembles the contemporary culture of Orchomenos, Asine, Korakou, and Lianokladi and was developed by the same tribes.
- After a fire destroyed the last settlement of the Middle Helladic period, the first Late Helladic settlement was established on the southern slope and at the top of the hill. At the end of the Late Helladic period, the settlement spread across the entire northeastern side of the hill.
- Keleos and Eumolpos, who established the cult of the goddess Demeter, were contemporaries of Erechtheus (second half of the 15th century BC).

Proto-Geometric - Geometric period (1100 - 7th century BC)

During the Proto-Geometric period (1100 - 9th century BC), despite the destruction of the settlement, it was not completely deserted. The worship of Demeter remained intact. During the Geometric period (8th–7th century BC), it was inhabited normally and the worship of the goddess continued to be performed at her sanctuary. The 8th century BC is particularly significant because the worship of Demeter and the Panhellenic character of the Eleusinian Mysteries were officially established. The Mycenaean palace is entirely dedicated to the goddess, while the family of the Eumolpids (priests of the goddess) settles in buildings 100 meters south of the "Sacred House."

Archaic Period (700–500 BC)

- In the time of Solon, Eleusis had already been conquered by the Athenians and now followed the fate of the city of Athens.
- The "Sacred House" had been destroyed in the 7th century BC, but the worship of the goddess continued.
- It may have regained its freedom around 632 BC, when Cylon attempted to impose tyranny.
- In the time of Solon, Eleusis had been occupied by the Athenians.
- During the period of Peisistratos, the Athenians consolidated their rule, extended the boundaries of the wall, shaped the telesterion, and established the Mysteries as an official Athenian festival.

CLASSICAL PERIOD

The Age of Cimon and Pericles (480–404 BC)

The triumph of the Battle of Salamis found Eleusis in ruins. The Persians burned, demolished, and destroyed the sanctuaries of the gods and the homes of the inhabitants. - Cimon was probably the person who provided funds for the reconstruction of the sanctuary between 479 BC and 461 BC, when he was ostracized. - Pericles' contribution to the greatness of Eleusis was comparable to the construction activity on the Acropolis of Athens. - Ictinus, the architect of the Parthenon, undertook the design of the sanctuary of Demeter. The death of Alexander the Great and the wars of the Successors mark the end of the 4th century BC and the beginning of the so-called Hellenistic Period. Macedonian guards were stationed in Eleusis. At the beginning of the 3rd century, a fortification wall was built, part of which survives at the northern end of the hill. The fortress at the top of the western hill also dates from the same period. The Frankish tower, a characteristic landmark of Eleusis until recent years, was built on its foundations.   ROMAN PERIOD (146 BC - 395 AD) - The cult of Demeter spread to the Roman citizens. The sanctuary of Demeter and Kore was surrounded by the aura of a sacred place, unique in the world. - The most significant event during this period was the partial destruction of the sanctuary in 170 AD by the hordes of the barbarian Costoboci, who lived in northern Dacia. - In 124 AD, Hadrian was initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. The construction of the bridge over the Eleusinian Kifissos River also dates back to this period. Another important project undertaken by the Roman emperor was the construction of the Hadrianic Aqueduct, which began at the springs of Phyle and ended at the Sanctuary of Demeter. The sanctuary followed the fortunes of Athens until its destruction by the hordes of Alaric in 395 AD. - After the advent of Christianity, the initiates withdrew permanently to the gates of Hades, without any hope of returning with Kore to Earth.