Eleusis

Eleusis, Elefsina (Greek: Ελευσίνα Elefsina, Ancient Greek: Ἐλευσίς Eleusis) is a town and municipality in West Attica, Greece. It is situated about 18 kilometres (11 miles) northwest from the centre of Athens. It is located in the Thriasian Plain, at the northernmost end of the Saronic Gulf. North of Eleusis are Mandra and Magoula, while Aspropyrgos is to the northeast.

Eleusis is the seat of administration of West Attica regional unit. It is best known for having been the site of the Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the most famous religious events of the ancient Greek religion, and the birthplace of Aeschylus, one of the three great tragedians of antiquity. Today Eleusis is a major industrial centre, with the largest oil refinery in Greece.

Municipality

The municipality Elefsina was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following two former municipalities, that became municipal units:

History

Ancient Eleusis

Eleusis (disambiguation)

Eleusis may refer to:

Eleusis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Eleusis was the eponymous hero of the town of Eleusis. He was a son of Hermes and the Oceanid Daeira, or of Ogygus.Panyassis wrote of him as father of Triptolemus, adding that "Demeter came to him"; this version of the myth is found in the works of Hyginus and Servius. According to it, King Eleusis and Cothonea (Cyntinia), parents of Triptolemus, are visited by Demeter, who rears their son, feeding him divine milk by day and placing him into the fire at night, which makes Triptolemus grow faster than mortal children normally do. She eventually kills Eleusis for intervening when the fire ritual is performed. The myth is closely parallel with the one that deals with Demeter visiting Celeus and Metaneira (also possible parents of Triptolemus) and nursing their son Demophon.

See also

References