Proceedings
The conference proceedings were published in March 2010.
Editors: Iphigeneia Leventi and Christina Mitsopoulou.
Printed by IDEA & TYPOS - Phillipos Sp. Lenis.
The volume was printed with the financial assistance of Psiha Foundation and the University of Thessaly.
ISBN: 978-960-89078-6-7
Papers
- Clinton, Kevin
- The Eleusinian Aparche in Practice: 329/8 B.C.
- Kevin Clinton, Professor of Classical Studies at Cornell University and Director of the American Research Centre in Sofia Bulgaria, presents in detail the practice of aparche (first-fruits of the yearly crops) which was being collected at the Eleusinian sanctuary; his study is based primarily on the ac- counts for the year 329/8 B.C., when the practice was limited to contributions made by the Attic demes and the Athenian cleruchies. The inscription for the year 329/8 demonstrates how the procedure for the delivery of the aparche to the Eleusinian sanctuary was made and especially how after the sale of the grains, the funds were used for arranging an expensive sacrifice, for setting up a lavish dedication and for engraving the dedicatory inscription mentioning very probably in great detail the donors.
- Tiverios, Michalis
- 'Αρτεμις, Διόνυσος και ελευσινιακές θεότητες
- Michalis Tiverios, Professor of Classical Archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessalonike, examines in great detail the representations of the Eleusinian deities Demeter and Kore, together with Artemis, Apollo and Dionysos, primarily on ritual vessels from the Eleusinian sanctuary. Both the iconography as well as the cult practices testify to the hypothesis, that, according to a secret no doubt Eleusinian tradition, Artemis was the daughter of Demeter and Dionysos. This version which was known to Aeschylus, as is attested by literary sources, betrays Egyptian influence.
- Mitsopoulou, Christina
- Το ιερό της Δήμητρας στην Κύθνο και η μίσθωση του ελευσινιακού τεμένους
- Christina Mitsopoulou, Associate Lecturer of Classical Archaeology and in charge of the Laboratory of Archaeology at the University of Thessaly, presents the sanctuary of Demeter at Kythnos in the Cyclades. The most important categories of finds from the surface surveys which demonstrate the identity of the cult are discussed. Special emphasis is given to the rarely found outside Attica Eleusinian cult vessel, the so-called kernos or plemochoe and the question of its local use or offering is being raised. On the other hand, the collection of rental revenues from a sacred temenos (enclosure) at Kythnos for the period 421/0-408/7 B.C., attested epigraphically, testifies to the interests of the sanctuary of Eleusis towards the wealthy metalliferous island during the Peloponnesian War, a period of financial difficulties for the Athenian state.
- Gauwlinski, Laura
- Andania: The Messenian Eleusis
- Laura Gawlinski, Assistant Professor of Classical Studies at Loyola University Chicago, studies in detail the inscription of the Mysteries from Andania in Messenia, which reflects the reorganisation of the local cult in the early first century B.C. The study particularly brings forward the similarities and differences between the local Messenian mystery cult and that of the Eleusinian Mysteries, while revealing common regulations and rules which seem to have been in use for all mystery cults. Finally she studies the relationship between the mysteries and the topography of the area and the political exploitation of the Andanian Mysteries by a civil centre, here in particular by the city of Messene, just as Athens exploited the Eleusinian sanctuary.
- Leventi, Iphigeneia
- Η ελευσινιακή λατρεία στην περιφέρεια του ελληνικού κόσμου: το αναθηματικό ανάγλυφο από τo Παντικάπαιο
- Iphigeneia Leventi, Assistant Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Thessaly, analyses in detail the representation of an Eleusinian scene on a well-known votive relief which was found in Pantikapaion and which she dates between 380 and 370 B.C. Here she identifies the only so far known representation of paides (children) that were hearth-initiates, taking part in a pre-initiation ritual. Ηaving gathered evidence for the diffusion of the cult of Demeter in the kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporos, the author argues that the relief had been imported from Athens as a means of the religious propaganda which was being promulgated by the Athenian city-state during this period of expansion of the Eleusinian cult outside Attica and even to the periphery of the Greek world.
- Bookidis, Nancy
- The sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Corinth: A Review and an Update
- Nancy Bookidis, Assistant Director Emerita of the Corinth Excavations by the ASCSA and in particular of the excavations of the sanctuary of Demeter in Acrocorinth, presents the latest developments of her research regarding matters of topography and cult activities in this sanctuary, stressing that many questions still remain unanswered. Among the most conspicuous elements of this sanctuary are the theatre-shaped constructions from which the spectators could watch the cult activities. Another salient characteristic of these cult practices is the presence of extensive dining areas where ritual dinners were being held, as well as the large scale, predominantly male, terracotta statues of youths.
- Petropoulos, Michalis
- Η λατρεία της Δήμητρας στην Αχαΐα
- Michalis Petropoulos, director of the 39th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Arcadia), gives a general detailed presentation of sanctuaries and cults of Demeter in Achaia (Patras, Aigion, Voura, Pellene, Dyme). He focuses mainly on his recent excavations of the sanctuary at ancient Antheia (modern Thea in the Patras region). Conspicuous among the numerous finds are the miniscule drinking vessels (the so-called poteria) which lead to the hypothesis that the sanctuary can be identified as that of Demeter Poteriophoros and possibly a Thesmophorion, well attested in ancient sources. Finally the author puts forward the interesting view that the cult of Demeter in Achaia was established at exactly the same time as when the first Achaean colonies in the West were founded and it is therefore for this reason that it was not included as part of the official ritual there.
- Batziou-Eustathiou, Anthi
- Λατρείες Δήμητρας και Κόρης στη Δημητριάδα
- Anthe Batziou Eustathiou, director of the 15th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Prefecture of Larissa), has collected all the data from an earlier excavation conducted by A. Arvanitopoulos at the interior of the enclosure at Demetrias, in near proximity to the eastern wall and the adjacent cemetery, as well as finds from recent excavations in the same area conducted by herself. The evidence which has been brought together testifies to the presence of a sanctuary of Demeter Thesmophoros. In the second part of her study Batziou examines the idiosyncratic and local character of Pasikrata, a chthonic Thessalian goddess encompassing elements from both Aphrodite and Persephone, who was worshipped within the southern cemetery of Demetrias as can be further determined by the votive offerings.
- Pingiatoglou, Semeli
- Το ιερό της Δήμητρος στο Δίον
- Semele Pingiatoglou, Professor of Classical Archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, sums up the results of years of excavations which she conducted at the important sanctuary of Demeter at Dion in the region of Macedonia, which was in constant use from the Classical period until the end of the 4th century A.D. She determines the duality of the cult of Demeter and Kore, the association of Kore to chthonic Aphrodite, the close proximity to the shrines of Asclepios, Zeus Hypsistos, as well as that of Isis, the common worship with Kourotrophos, Artemis/Eileithyia and maternal Kybele and lastly the association with the Attic Eleusinian cult through the votive inscription to Baubo.
- Trantafyllidis, Pavlos
- Kυλινδρικοί επιτύμβιοι βωμοί με διακόσμηση σταχυών και κωδιών μηκώνων από τα Δωδεκάνησα
- Pavlos Triantafyllidis, head of the Department for Archaeological Sites, Monuments and Research at the 22nd Ephorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Dodecannese), presents an interesting and intriguing group of hitherto unpublished Hellenistic funerary altars from the Dodecannese, Rhodes and Telos, which are decorated with relief representation of ears of corn and poppy heads, both symbols of the fertile and chthonic nature of Demeter. The association of altars to the cult of Demeter is attested by two more examples from Asia Minor bearing an inscription dedicated to Demeter. In the present study these two plants have been thoroughly presented as they appear both isolated and in combination on works of art from the Greek and Roman world and are connected directly or indirectly to the cult of Demeter and the underworld.
