The archaeological area of ancient Eleusis occupies a small rectangular area on the outskirts of Athens. It is easily and inexpensively accessible from the center of Athens. We took the Megara bus at the Tisio metro station, which in 30 minutes brought us directly to Eleusis. It is only necessary to cross the road and climb a hundred meters up. It cost 2 euros one way. Here, during the time of ancient Greece, Eleusinian mysteries were held, associated with the cult of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter came to Eleusis after the abduction of her daughter Persephone by the god of the kingdom of the dead by Hades. Demeter sat and grieved in a grotto in Eleusis. From her sadness the world froze: trees and flowers stopped growing, animals, birds and fish died. Then Zeus sent Hermes to Hades with the order to return Persephone to his mother. Hades let the queen eat a pomegranate seed. He knew that whoever eats something in the world of the dead should return there. Therefore, Persephone spends two-thirds of the year on earth with his mother. and one third with her husband. When Persephone with her mother on the earth everything blooms, grows and bears fruit. .When Persephone returns to Hades, winter comes on earth.
Persephone returned to life from the realm of death. A myth that gives hope to people, saying that there is a reincarnation of the soul, that death is the end for the physical body, but not for the spirit. After death, a new life begins. In antiquity, seriously ill people were brought to Eleusis, and their stay in this place made it easier for them to leave the physical plane.
Not far from the entrance there is a well, next to it there is an inscription saying that around the well there were dancers and sacrifices.
We go further into the archaeological park, we pass by the marble base with high steps, inherited from the ancient temple. To his left are underground structures. There is water in them below, and I get the feeling of entering an underground city.
To the right of the marble base of the temple, in the rock you can see the grotto or cave of Demeter. It was here that Demeter sat when she was sad about her daughter Persephone. In front of the grotto there is a stone block and smaller stones scattered around. It looks like a place where the mystes could sit. But it is fenced off with a rope.
There is also a well through which Persephone left and came. In this place, the previous settings remained and the well is a passage into the world of Persephone, into the world of the dead.
We sat opposite the grotto, next to the well, on the protruding stones. Previously asked permission from the employee of the museum park. There were few visitors, there was practically no one but us, so the employee stood at a distance of two hours of our work and watched us. As it turned out, I watched carefully. A small dog came to us and I treated her with my sandwich. But, as soon as I began to eat the rest of the bread and cheese myself, she remarked to me that it was impossible to eat here.
When we finished work, other visitors came to the cave right away, apparently for the same purpose – to tune in to Persephone and Demeter.
Two hours later, having completed the entire program, we went to the museum upstairs. There are marble bas-reliefs, statues and utensils found in Eleusis. Little is known about the Eleusinian Mysteries. After all, the Mists vowed to keep a secret. I hoped that the museum would learn something new about what was happening here. The museum has images and statues of Demeter and Persephone. A lot of different dishes. Apparently it brought gifts.
I didn’t like Eleusis very much by its humanity and by the fact that a piece of past Eleusinian mysteries was preserved here.
04/20/19
Belena Travel Blog 