CLST 101 Lecture Notes - Eleusinian Mysteries, Kernos, Ephebos
1 Feb 2013
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Boedremion 14 (sept 25th), sacred objects moved to athens, in athenian eleusinion. Ephebes (epheboi youths 18 or 19) escorted sacred objects. Beodremion 15 (26th) people met in agora and invited to take part in mysteries, except ones who couldn"t speak greek, homicides and impure. Delegations from other cities joining concession (anthesteria), eleusinian everyone joined. People went to phaleron, washed selves in sea, sacrificed a piglet. (same animal the used to sacrifice for purification) 19 or 20 (sept 30) after rituals, procession moved to eleusis, bringing back sacred objects. People followed procession, brough myrtle branches( bakkhoi), a walking stick and sack. Procession led by iakkhos. (personification of ritual cry) arrived in eleusis at night. Important vase: kernos contained seeds and grains to offer to demeter and persephone. On following days, performed purification rituals, sacrifices and fasting, then the secret part of ritual. Sanctuary of eleusis secret rituals held there, only priest and initiates to know what"s going on.
