Eleusis, the temple home of Demeter & Persephone,
and the site of the Great Mysteries of Persephone's descent with Hades and her
rise again to the earth, was the most important and longest lasting of all in
ancient Greece. The yearly calendar itself begins with the Mystery, so essential
was this event to human life. All of life - birth to death, planting to harvest
- revolved around Demeter, Persephone and Hades, and their story. Many other
deities involved in the story were given smaller temples within the temple
complex of Eleusis, as their role in the abduction paved the way.
Here is the calendar of Eleusinian festivals, and my own research to determine
the meanings of the names and their significance. (Ancient Greek months start
halfway in one month and continue to halfway in the next month, according to our
current calendar. The ancient calendar can be found here.)
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SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
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The
Greater Mysteries
[ Μυσηριον Μεγαλη ]
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These included
the Sacred Drama of Eleusis, wherein priests and priestesses demonstrated the
symbolic and literal rebirth of all life to initiates.
Worshipper who participated
in this event traveled from many places around the world, and even slaves could
join in. The only pre-requisites were the ability to speak Greek, and never
having committed a murder. Initiates spent the nine days previous fasting and
preparing, purifying themselves in the salt sea water along with a living sacrificial pig.
They then
drank the mildly hallucinogenic kykeon before walking the several miles from
Athens to the Eleusis temple.
Once there, they witnessed the drama as enacted by temple priests and
priestesses, which
culminated with a mass vision of Persephone rising through flames.
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OCTOBER - NOVEMBER
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Proerosia
[ Προεροσια ]
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From "pro" ("before") and "eros"
("love"), making it very clear this was a symbolic sort of plowing and planting.
This festival related to the part of the Lesser Mysteries which detail Demeter
and Zeus conceiving Persephone.
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[same] |
Stenia
[ Στενια ] |
Probably from "steno", meaning "to
moan, sigh, groan". Since it's a celebration of sexuality, I think this is the
most likely source of the word. Rude behavior by women was the most common thing
found during this festival.
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[same] |
Arkichronia
[ Αρκιχρονια ] |
From "arkeo" ("to ward off") and
"chronos" ("time"). This being a fertility festival, spent creating talismans to enhance
and preserve life-giving forces, the name makes perfect sense.
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[same] |
Thesmophoria
[ Θεσμοφορια ] |
From "thesmos" ("law") and "phoros" ("bringing"). Both Demeter and Persephone
shared the title Thesmophoros, above and below the ground.
This festival was a celebration of the laws of nature, planting and harvesting.
During this time, women received freedom to leave their families and do exactly
as they wished for three full days, and no one was legally able to stop them.
There was often a great deal of what would ordinarily be law-breaking and very
crude behaviour.
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[same] |
Nestia
[ Νηστια ] |
From "nestis", meaning "to fast".
This is a purification rite. It represents Demeter's refusal to eat or drink
with the gods until Persephone was returned.
This morning festival marks the day Persephone
returned from the Underworld, and is held on the same day as the evening
festival of Kalligeneia
(see next).
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[same] |
Kalligeneia
[ Καλιγενεια ] |
From "kalligeneia", meaning
"bearer of fair offspring". This evening festival is for Demeter and Persephone's
reunion, and describes Persephone's beauty. The title Kalligeneia was
also given
to Demeter herself. Planting of the year's crops officially began during this celebration.
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NOVEMBER -
DECEMBER
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none
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DECEMBER - JANUARY
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Haloa
[ Αλωα ]
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Seems to come from "haloe" or "haloa",
meaning both "threshing floor" and "garden, orchard, vineyard". This was a celebration
of new growth, but also seems to encompass the later harvest as well, as if
to demonstrate that new growth always ends and will die.
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JANUARY - FEBRUARY
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none
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FEBRUARY - MARCH
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Chloaia
[ Χλοαια ] |
From "chloa", meaning "young foliage,
greenery". This suits the Festival of Flowers perfectly well. The festival was
a three day event devoted mostly to Dionysos, but led directly up to the day
of the Lesser Mysteries. And as there are several immediate connections to
Dionysos, it fit very well to combine them.
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[same] |
The Lesser Mysteries
[ Μυσηριον Μικρον ]
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A general rite
for the entire cycle of nature, as symbolized by the Goddesses. Purification
rites were performed, and various sacrifices were made to Demeter.
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MARCH - APRIL
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none
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APRIL - MAY
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none
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MAY - JUNE
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none
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JUNE - JULY
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Kalamaia
[ Καλαμαια ]
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From
"kalame", which means "grasshopper". Perhaps when threshing, they stirred up
a lot of these insects. I haven't found a precise answer to why it was named
this way. The festival honored Triptolemos, the first priest
of Demeter.
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[same] |
Skirophoria
[ Σκιροφορια ] |
From
"Skirophorion", the month in which this festival falls, which derives from "skiraphos",
meaning "trickery, cheating". There is also a possible relation to the word
"skia" which mean "shadow".
This festival deals with Persephone's descent to
the Underworld, and refers pretty clearly to Demeter's feelings about the situation.
During this time, grain was stored in preparation for the coming months of dry
summer when nothing would grow.
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JULY - AUGUST
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none
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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
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none
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S+S
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