Eleusis, which is actually still a part of Attica, was the place where people were initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries, a mystery cult devoted to the goddess Demeter. It lies at the end of the sacred way, a road which runs from Athens to Eleusis (modern day Elefsina) and has ruins that are expansive and very interesting to look at, contrary to what my guidebook so glibly says. (Which is basically that they aren't worth visiting. Lies, my friends! Absolute lies.) It's a pretty cool place.
The goddess herself- conveniently labeled "thea" so everyone can know who she is. Demeter is a goddess of agriculture, and she was very important to the Ancient Greeks, who lived in an agrarian society. It was believed that the initiates into the mystery cult would enjoy a much happier afterlife.
This is where the Eleusinian mysteries took place!!!!!!!!!!!!Just how secret were the Eleusinian mysteries? The answer is: very. So much so that we don't actually know exactly what occurred at the initiation ceremony. There are some very educated guesses, but none of the ancient sources actually record what went on there.
The site- that big cave thing is part of a sanctuary of Hades.
Next stop- Mycenae! (Not really. But close.) On the bus ride, and at the actual site of Mycenae, we read the Agamemnon out loud in Ancient Greek. It was very bad-ass. And nerdy. I was Clytemnestra.
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