English: The earliest cult building on the site of the Telesterion (or Initiation Hall) was the Anaktoron of the 7th century BC. During excavations at the site, excavators found a series of five pits related to the earliest use of the cult building below the porch area of the Telesterion. The pits were built of poros stone and were dug down to the bedrock. They contained animal bones and were likely the megara into which piglets were thrown during the early rites of the Thesmophoria. The early cult building was enlarged by Solon, and then later by Peisistratus. Each new building was constructed around the previous sacred site without demolishing the earlier buildings. The Peisistratean-era poros stone Telesterion measured 25x 27 metres with a columned porch on the eastern side and decorative Parian marble cornice. In 480 BC, the Telesterion was destroyed by the Persians and reconstruction started under Kimon.

The Classical Telesterion was designed in the mid-5th century BC under Pericles by the architect, Iktinos, who also designed the Athenian Parthenon. It was built as an almost-square naos with 20 columns supporting an opaion roof (designed with an open oculus at the centre). A portico with twelve Doric columns was added around 318 BC. In AD 170, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, rebuilt the Telesterion again after damage by an invading local tribe. The hall was enlarged once more to measure 51 x 53 metres, with a capacity of 2,000 people. This large, 2nd century gathering hall had 42 columns arranged in a regularly spaced rectangle of seven rows of six columns. Following Iktinos’s design, the columns supported an opaioned roof over the naos. Decorative elements were completed in Pentelic marble. A niche displaying the throne of the Hierophant was located in the northeast corner. At this time, the rock-cut seats around the naos were faced with marble. As part of the nine-day festival of Eleusinia, during the month of Boedromion, the Telesterion was the focal point of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Following the re-enactment of the Homeric Hymn of Demeter and Persephone, the sacred relics of Demeter were revealed to the initiates within the hall. During the ceremonies, the initiates stood on tiers of eight steps arrayed around each side of the naos. After the Eleusinian Mysteries were banned in the late 4th century AD, the Telesterion was destroyed by the Visigoths and never rebuilt. The foundations of the earlier cult building remain. In particular, in the southwest corner, a small portion of the Solonian era Telesterion can be seen made of blue-grey Eleusinian stone cut in the polygonal style. From its final period of construction, the massive column bases of the Roman-era Telesterion dominate the centre of the naos with the surrounding rock-cut steps visible to show the massive scale of the building.

Source: ©Timetravelrome