Elefsina -Home to the fabled Mysteries of Antiquity and 2023 European Capital of Culture
Escape the hustle and bustle of Athens in less than 45 minutes, with a bespoke privateguided tour to the coastal town of Eleusis – a sacred place where the most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece were performed.
Did you know that the spring’s first wildflowers appear in Elefsina before they do in any other part of Greece? This is attributed to its special relationship with the gods: The name Eleusis actually derives from the advent of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, whose cult runs uninterrupted from Mycenean through to Roman times. The town itself hails from the deepest recess of antiquity while its history is intertwined with that of Athens. Every four years ancient Athenians – including slaves, women and children, in a great manifestation of Democracy – walked from the Acropolis, via Iera Odos to Eleusis to be initiated to the fabled Eleusinian Mysteries: Participants were of course sworn to secrecy, and these obscure set of rites most likely involved the use of psychedelic drugs, so there is a lot of overlap between fact and fiction.
But our knowledgeable guide is at hand to give you a thorough understanding of the intricate myths and stories of Elefsina as you wander around this spiritual city’s fascinating ruins. Though steeped in history, Elefsina remains very much alive nowadays. In fact, it’s Europe’s Cultural Capital for 2023, while it also boasts an active waterfront dining scene. After an intoxicating trip to the mysteries of the ancient world, our tour ideally concludes with lunch at a rare gem of a local taverna.
Source: Upper Travel
