W.034 Telesterion of Eleusis

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Creator

Denis Baly

Image ID

W.034

Alternate Identifier

B22.034

Subcollection

W: Attica, Crete, Santorini

Abstract

The remains of the Telesterion, the large temple that was located at the center of the sanctuary.

Description

Of the Telesterion, in his entry in the Ancient History Encyclopedia, Joshua J. Mark writes: "After drinking the Kykeon [a barley and mint beverage consumed by participants as part of the ritual] the participants entered the Telesterion, an underground `theatre', where the secret ritual took place. Most likely it was a symbolic re-enactment of the `death' and rebirth of Persephone which the initates watched and, perhaps, took some part in. Whatever happened in the Telesterion, those who entered in would come out the next morning radically changed. Virtually every important writer in antiquity, anyone who was `anyone', was an initiate of the Mysteries." This photo looks upon the westernmost row of columns underneath a rock-cut wall. The telesterion is surrounded by steps on the remaining three sides, and the height from which the photo was taken, evidenced by the visibility of the tops of the six foot tall (2m) columns, reveals that Baly likely took the photo standing on a staircase running behind the north steps.

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

Image Notes

Creation date unknown. Processing date unknown. Formerly catalogued as B22.034. Notes written on the slide or index: Eleusis.

Image Format

35 mm slide

Geographic Reference

Eleusina, Greece