W.033 The Greater Propylea

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Creator

Denis Baly

Image ID

W.033

Alternate Identifier

B22.033

Subcollection

W: Attica, Crete, Santorini

Abstract

View of the Propylea, or entranceway to the Sanctuary of Demeter, considered to be the site of the legendary Eleusinian Mysteries which became one of the most important events of the Athenian religious calendar.

Description

The Mysteries of Eleusis were celebrations of the story of Demeter and her daughter Persephone. The initiates of the cult of this mystic ritual were "sworn to secrecy on pain of death" and hence there is very little information available of the details of this ritual. What is known, however, is that "those who participated in the mysteries were forever changed for the better and that they no longer feared death." It is also worth noting that both Socrates and Plato are considered to have been initiates as well, and the Eleusinian Mysteries have even been mentioned in Plato's famous dialogue Phaedo. To the left of the steps, we can see the lower half of the aspidal wall of the kallichoron well. The wall is made of poros stone and was once taller, with the upper portions being made of mudbrick.

References

Mark, Joshua J. "The Eleusinian Mysteries: The Rites of Demeter." World History Encyclopedia. 18 Jan. 2012. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/32/the-eleusinian-mysteries-the-rites-of-demeter; Info board at Eleusis

Image Notes

Creation date unknown. Processing date unknown. Formerly catalogued as B22.033. Notes written on the slide or index: Eleusis - Propylea.

Image Format

35 mm slide

Geographic Reference

Eleusina, Greece