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Eleusinian Mysteries

Unlocking the Eleusinian Mysteries
Private tour

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Duration:
4 Hours
Languages:
English
Location:

Eleusis, Athens

Theme:
History
Mythology
Ancient Greek Rituals

The Eleusinian Mysteries were the most sacred and secret religious rites of ancient Greece. The penalty for speaking of the Mysteries was death… In this half-day excursion from Athens, we will follow the Sacred Way to Eleusis, crossing by car the same distance the ancient people did on foot during their holy procession. There, we will meet Goddess Demeter in her Temple and her daughter Persephone. Hopefully, we will be accepted into the Mysteries and be able to enter the inner sanctuary of the Temple, a place that kept its secrets for more than 1500 years…

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HIGHLIGHTS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT PRACTICAL INFO

 

  • Private guided excursion to Eleusis from Athens
  • Private guided excursion to Eleusis from Athens
  • Private guided excursion to Eleusis from Athens
  • Private guided excursion to Eleusis from Athens

1. Highlights 

 

  • The mystical journey into the secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries and the stages of initiation
  • The exciting myth about the abduction of Persephone from Hades and the founding of the Mysteries
  • The philosophical conversation about the meaning of the Mysteries and their connection to the sacred cycle of nature

 

  • “I have no words! Our guide was exceptionally prepared, very knowledgeable and friendly. Visiting the site without him would not be the same. The place is mostly in ruins and you need to imagine everything as it must have been. Our guide did an excellent job to make us realize the importance of the place and how it must have felt like to be an initiate into the Mysteries. Great work and great tour! Thank you :)"
    - Patricia K, USA
  • "Amazing tour! From the moment we stepped in the car, Michalis traveled us to the world of ancient Greece and the time of the holy procession to the Eleusis. We had a very nice intro to what would follow and got to know each other. The driver was very professional and kind. Arriving at Eleusis, we entered the site which was mostly in ruins, so a guided tour is necessary here. Michalis had prepared some very interesting activities that helped us understand the stages of initiation and the story of how the Mysteries came to be. Excellent preparation and organization! This is an excursion I highly recommend if you are visiting Athens!
    - Jonathan

2. What you can expect

The excursion to Eleusis will start after picking you up from your hotel. We will travel to Eleusis by car, the city selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2023. We will follow the ‘Iera Odos’ (Sacred Way), the road that the procession of the Eleusinian Mysteries used to take to Eleusis, which still survives, 2500 years later.

 

The Eleusinian Mysteries were secret religious rites of ancient Athens that annually celebrated the story of Goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, who was kidnapped by Hades, Lord of the Underworld. The Eleusinian Mysteries were famous in the ancient world and many prominent men were initiated into them; Plato, Pythagoras, Pericles, the Roman Emperor Hadrian, to name a few… What is so intriguing about the Mysteries is that, despite the fact that many thousands of initiates took part in the sacred rituals over so many centuries, no one ever divulged the secrets of what really took place. One reason for this silence is obvious: speaking of the sacred rituals was a crime punishable by death. What we do know, though, is that those who participated in the mysteries no longer feared death.

 

With the help of our expert guide and storyteller, we will discover the steps and many stages of initiation into the Mysteries. We will get to know the Goddess of harvest and fertility, Demeter, and the places she walked on during her life on Earth, according to Greek Mythology. We will also explore the mythological explanation of how the Eleusinian Mysteries were established and what they symbolized for ancient Greeks.

 

The deeper we delve into the different stages of initiation, the more we unfold. We will hear about stories and secrets, rituals and legends! We will also approach and observe one of the ancient gates to the Underworld, the Kingdom of Hades.

 

Finally, we will visit the small but very important site Museum. There, we will observe the headless statue of Demeter, dating back to the 5th century BC, the Eleusis amphora, one of the most splendid examples of the Proto-attic style, which bears a representation of the blinding of Cyclops Polyphemus by Ulysses, and the colossal statue of a Cistophorus Kore, who was one of the two Caryatids supporting the roof of Lesser Propylaea. After we admire the view over the hill to the sea, we will head back to Athens' city-center or your hotel, whichever you like best.

 

3. Practical Info

 

Duration: Half-day excursion (4 hours)
Language: English
*Other languages upon request
Location: Eleusis, Athens
When:

Daily, flexible starting time
Recommended starting time: 8.30 am

Price:

Starting from €580

Good to know:
  • This is a private, guided excursion from Athens
  • Your safety and comfort are our foremost priority! For your transportation, we use luxury, brand-new cars or minivans with professional drivers (not taxis).
  • It is advised to wear a hat and sunscreen
What's included:
  • Services of our expert, state-licensed guide and storyteller
  • Private, luxury car from Athens to Eleusis and back, with a professional driver
  • Civil liability insurance
  • Gas, VAT and local taxes
Not included:
  • Entry fees to the Eleusis site (Full: €6, Reduced: €3)
  • Any food or drinks
  • Gratuities (optional)

 

 

Private guided excursion to Eleusis from Athens

 

Notes:

The meeting point for this guided excursion to Eleusis is the lobby of your hotel in Athens.

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Unlocking the Eleusinian Mysteries Private Tour
This is a private tour
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