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Definition: Eleusinian Mysteries from Philip's Encyclopedia

Religious rites performed in ancient Greece at Eleusis, Attica, to honour Demeter and Persephone. The rites probably arose out of a rural fertility festival.


Eleusinian Mysteries

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Ceremonies in honour of the Greek deities Demeter , goddess of corn, and her daughter Persephone , queen of the underworld, celebrated in the precincts of the temple of Demeter at Eleusis, in the territory of Athens. They formed the basis of a secret cult, requiring initiation for entrance. The rituals were agrarian in origin and had a strong chthonic (pertaining to the underworld) aspect, dealing with the cycle of growth and decay represented by Persephone's half-yearly absence from her mother. History The festivals of Eleusis were established in Athens by the end of the 6th century BC . In archaic times the mysteries were probably supervised by the king, but in the classical era this function was performed by the archon basileus, the elected king and religious representative of the state. The mysteries were abolished at the end of the 4th century AD by the Roman emperor Theodosius (I) the Great , a pious Christian who dealt severely with heretics and ordered the death penalty for…
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Full text Article Eleusinian mysteries

From Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained
The religious ceremonies of the goddess Demeter celebrated at Eleusis in Greece. The sanctuary of Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of crops and fruit, at the town of Eleusis in Attica (absorbed as a district of Athens by the 7th century bc ), was famous as the centre of annual religious rites…
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Full text Article Eleusinian Mysteries

From Cultural Studies: Holidays Around the World
In ancient Athens, the Eleusinia was the most celebrated of all religious ceremonies. Often referred to as the Mysteries because anyone who violated the secrecy surrounding the festival rites would be punished by death, the Eleusinia consisted of two celebrations: The Greater Eleusinia was observed…
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Full text Article Eleusinian Mysteries

From Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World
This important Athenian religious cult in honor of the grain goddess Demeter was observed at the town of Eleusis (which lies 15 miles northwest of Athens , in the region's main wheat- and barley-growing plain). The cult was given the title “Mysteries” ( musteriai , from mustes , “an initiate”) …
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Full text Article Eleusinian Mysteries

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Ceremonies in honour of the Greek deities Demeter , goddess of corn, and her daughter Persephone , queen of the underworld, celebrated in the precincts of the temple of Demeter at Eleusis, in the territory of Athens. They formed the basis of a secret cult, requiring initiation for entrance. The…
| 505 words
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Full text Article Eleusinian Mysteries

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(ĕlyōsĭn'ēӘn), principal religious mysteries of ancient Greece. The mysteries may have originated as part of an early agrarian festival peculiar to certain families in Eleusis. The Athenians later (c.600 B.C. ) took over the ceremonies. Because the mysteries were secret, little is known of them. …
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Full text Article Eleusinian Mysteries

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
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Full text Article Eleusinian mysteries

From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
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Marble bas-relief depicting Triad of Eleusinian Mysteries with Persephone, Demeter and Triptolemus, from Eleusis
Credit: Marble bas-relief depicting Triad of Eleusinian Mysteries with Persephone, Demeter and Triptolemus, from Eleusis / De Agostini Picture Library / G. Dagli Orti / The Bridgeman Art Library Description: Greek civilization, 5th century b.C. The triad of the Eleusinian Mysteries: Persephone, …
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Greek civilization, marble bas-relief depicting triad of Eleusinian mysteries: Demeter, Triptolemus and Persephone, from Eleusis, circa 440-430 BC
Credit: Greek civilization, marble bas-relief depicting triad of Eleusinian mysteries: Demeter, Triptolemus and Persephone, from Eleusis, circa 440-430 BC / De Agostini Picture Library / G. Nimatallah / The Bridgeman Art Library Description: Greek civilization, 5th century b.C. Marble bas-relief…
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Roman civilization, cinerary urn with relief decoration showing Eleusinian Mysteries from terme di diocleziano (baths of diocletian)
Credit: Roman civilization, cinerary urn with relief decoration showing Eleusinian Mysteries from terme di diocleziano (baths of diocletian) / De Agostini Picture Library / A. Dagli Orti / The Bridgeman Art Library Description: Roman civilization. Cinerary urn with relief decoration showing the…
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