Telesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries
Mycenaean to Roman (1500 BCE–395 CE)·Eleusinian·🇬🇷 Attica, Greece
About
About Telesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries
Telesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries in Attica, Greece is a Mycenaean to Roman (1500 BCE–395 CE) temple-complex attributed to Eleusinian. Dark hall of 42 columns where 3000 initiates witnessed Eleusinian Mysteries at Anaktoron shrine. Destroyed by Alaric 395 CE, excavations by Philios 1882 and Travlos revealed successive Telesteria.
Why it mattersType-site for Eleusinian temple-complex studies
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Phasing sequence
- 02Function and cult identity
Theories
- 01Panhellenic competition centre
- 02Colonial foundation model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 600 BCE Telesterion
- Period
- Mycenaean to Roman (1500 BCE–395 CE)
- Culture
- Eleusinian
- Purpose
- Dark hall of 42 columns where 3000 initiates witnessed Eleusinian Mysteries at Anaktoron shrine
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 600 BCE Telesterion
Initial construction
c. 1880 CE
Systematic excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
38.0410° N · 23.5360° E · 22 m · 3 mapped features
Telesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries — Principal Temple
templeMain peripteral temple
38.0412° N · 23.5361° ETelesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries — Stoa / Sanctuary Enclosure
stoaPortico enclosure
38.0408° N · 23.5362° ETelesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries — Theatre/Stadium Annex
theatreAnnexed games or assembly building
38.0415° N · 23.5358° E