Demeter Eleusinia

Paige Hackney

Who was Demeter?

• Goddess of Harvest and fertility of crops

• Mother to Persephone (Kore, the maid)

• Homeric Hymn of Demeter

Mysteries

• Secret, initiation- type rituals

• Travel to be initiated • We know very little • Fasting, drinking and

jesting• Punishments for

revealing mysteries• Boedromion 15-22

“the awful mysteries not to be transgressed, violated,or divulged, because the tongue is restrained by reverence for the gods”

Mysteries Cont.

• Multiple sacrifices to multiple deities

• Male priests played a major role

• Hierophant • Eumolpidae and

Ceryces• Lesser Mysteries

Sanctuary of Demeter

• Telesterion• Planting grain• Separation and

reunion• Brimus/Ploutos

“Demeter was kindly disposed of our ancestors, and she gave them two gifts which are the greatest: the fruits which make it possible for us to live not like animals, and the initiation, and those who partake of the initiation have sweeter hopes about the end od life and all eternity”

-Panegyricus