lesson 2- evidence/sources for the eleusinian mysteries Flashcards
We get our word ‘mystery’ from the Greek word ‘mysterion’ - what does ‘mysterion’ literally mean?
a ceremony or place of initiation
What did mystery religion require its devotees to do?
go through a rite of initiation
Who were the Eleusinian Mysteries devoted to the worship of?
demeter, her daughter persephone and an eleusinian hero named triptolemos
What other name is Persephone often called and what does it mean?
‘kore’ meaning daughter
How often and when were the Eleusinian mysteries celebrated?
twice a year and they were celebrated during march and september
who had to undergo initiation?
everyone- men, women, slaves, and non citizens
Who was excluded from initiation?
criminals and those who couldn’t speak greek
How far was Eleusis from Athens?
13 miles west of athens
What was special about Eleusis?
The township possessed rich agricultural land known as the rharian field where according to legend, grain was first sown by triptolemos after Demeter came to Eleusis to reside and taught humanity agriculture
At what point was Eleusis passed into Athenian state control?
around 600 BC
At what point did the sanctuary reach its height of importance?
4th century BC
During what period did it experience a revival?
2nd century BC
In total how long were the mysteries celebrated at Eleusis?
over a thousand years
What evidence do we have to suggest that the Eleusinian Mysteries presented as a serious rival to Christianity at one point?
Christian graffiti deface many of the monuments and because christian writers suggested the rituals connected to the sanctuary were disgusting and obscene.
Why have the Eleusinian Mysteries attracted so much attention in the modern age?
the mysteries were unlike any other greek festival