Eleusina
Encyclopedia
Eleusina is a town and municipality
in West Attica
, Greece
. It is situated about 18 km northwest from the centre of Athens. It is located in the Thriasian Plain
, at the northernmost end of the Saronic Gulf
. It 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 Eleusina is a major industrial center, with the largest oil refinery in Greece.
, or the Mysteries of Demeter
and Kore
. These Mysteries revolved around a belief that there was a hope for life after death for those who were initiated. Such a belief was cultivated from the introduction ceremony in which the hopeful initiates were shown a number of things including the seed of life in a stalk of grain. The central myth
of the Mysteries was Demeter's quest for her lost daughter (Kore the Maiden, or Persephone
) who had been abducted by Hades
. It was here that Demeter, disguised as an old lady who was abducted by pirates in Crete, came to an old well where the four daughters of the local king Keleos and his queen Metaneira (Kallidike
, Kleisidike, Demo
and Kallithoe) found her and took her to their palace to nurse the son of Keleos and Metaneira, Demophoon. Demeter raised Demophoon, anointing him with nectar and ambrosia, until Metaneira found out and insulted her. Demeter arose insulted, and casting off her disguise, and, in all her glory, instructed Meteneira to build a temple to her. Keleos, informed the next morning by Metaneira, ordered the citizens to build a rich shrine to Demeter, where she sat in her temple until the lot of the world prayed to Zeus to make the world provide food again.
, and Athens metro (transit). A toll post named after the community is on the westbound lanes of GR-8A. North of Eleusis are Mandra and Magoula
, while Aspropyrgos
is to the northeast. The town lies at the northern apex of the Gulf of Eleusina.
Eleusina is nowadays a major industrial area, and the place where the majority of crude oil in Greece is imported and refined. The largest refinery is located on the west side of town.
Athens' nearest military airport is a few kilometers east of Eleusina. It has been used since the mid-20th century. Its runway is about 2 km and its buildings are to the west.
They are home to the junior football (soccer) team Panelefsiniakos F.C.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in West Attica
West Attica
West Attica is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Attica. The capital of the regional unit is the town of Elefsina. The regional unit covers the western part of the agglomeration of Athens, and the area to its west....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is situated about 18 km northwest from the centre of Athens. It is located in the Thriasian Plain
Thriasian Plain
The Thriasian Plain is a plain in western Attica, immediately to the west of Athens, in Greece. It is bounded by Mount Egaleo to the east, Mount Parnitha to the north, Mount Pateras to the west, and the Bay of Eleusina to the south.-History:...
, at the northernmost end of the Saronic Gulf
Saronic Gulf
The Saronic Gulf or Gulf of Aegina in Greece forms part of the Aegean Sea and defines the eastern side of the isthmus of Corinth. It is the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal, which cuts across the isthmus.-Geography:The gulf includes the islands of; Aegina, Salamis, and Poros along with...
. It is the seat of administration of West Attica regional unit. It is best known for having been the site of the Eleusinian Mysteries
Eleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were held to be the ones of greatest importance...
, one of the most famous religious events of the ancient Greek religion
Ancient Greek religion
Greek religion encompasses the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced in ancient Greece in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices. These different groups varied enough for it to be possible to speak of Greek religions or "cults" in the plural, though most of them shared...
, and the birthplace of Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
, one of the three great tragedians of antiquity. Today Eleusina is a major industrial center, 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 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- Elefsina
- MagoulaMagoula, AtticaMagoula is a town and former community of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elefsina, of which it is a municipal unit....
Ancient Eleusís
From as early as 1700 BC up to the 4th century AD, Eleusina was the site of the Eleusinian MysteriesEleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were held to be the ones of greatest importance...
, or the Mysteries of Demeter
Demeter
In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
and Kore
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
. These Mysteries revolved around a belief that there was a hope for life after death for those who were initiated. Such a belief was cultivated from the introduction ceremony in which the hopeful initiates were shown a number of things including the seed of life in a stalk of grain. The central myth
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
of the Mysteries was Demeter's quest for her lost daughter (Kore the Maiden, or Persephone
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
) who had been abducted by Hades
Hades
Hades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
. It was here that Demeter, disguised as an old lady who was abducted by pirates in Crete, came to an old well where the four daughters of the local king Keleos and his queen Metaneira (Kallidike
Kallidike
-Queen of Thesprotia:Callidice was queen of Thesprotia and wife of Odysseus. She and Odysseus had a son, Polypoetes, together. According to the Telegony , Odysseus was sent on another voyage by the gods after killing all of Penelope's suitors. He journeyed through Epirus and came upon the nation of...
, Kleisidike, Demo
Demo
Demo may refer to:*DEMOs, a business process design methodology by Jan Dietz*Demo , a comic book series by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan*Demo , a non-interactive multimedia presentation...
and Kallithoe) found her and took her to their palace to nurse the son of Keleos and Metaneira, Demophoon. Demeter raised Demophoon, anointing him with nectar and ambrosia, until Metaneira found out and insulted her. Demeter arose insulted, and casting off her disguise, and, in all her glory, instructed Meteneira to build a temple to her. Keleos, informed the next morning by Metaneira, ordered the citizens to build a rich shrine to Demeter, where she sat in her temple until the lot of the world prayed to Zeus to make the world provide food again.
Modern Eleusína
Today, the city has become a suburb of Athens, to which it is linked by the freeway, the Athens metropolitan freeway (Attiki Odos)Attiki Odos
Attiki Odos is a privately owned toll motorway in Greece. The Proastiakos high-speed suburban rail is set almost entirely in the median of the motorway, along its main section. The motorway's numbers are 6 for the main section, 64 for the Hymettus Beltway and 65 for the Aigaleo Beltway...
, and Athens metro (transit). A toll post named after the community is on the westbound lanes of GR-8A. North of Eleusis are Mandra and Magoula
Magoula, Attica
Magoula is a town and former community of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elefsina, of which it is a municipal unit....
, while Aspropyrgos
Aspropyrgos
Aspropyrgos is a suburb of Athens, and a municipality in the West Attica regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is located 20 km NW of the city center of Athens in the Thriasian plain...
is to the northeast. The town lies at the northern apex of the Gulf of Eleusina.
Eleusina is nowadays a major industrial area, and the place where the majority of crude oil in Greece is imported and refined. The largest refinery is located on the west side of town.
Athens' nearest military airport is a few kilometers east of Eleusina. It has been used since the mid-20th century. Its runway is about 2 km and its buildings are to the west.
They are home to the junior football (soccer) team Panelefsiniakos F.C.
Panelefsiniakos F.C.
Panelefsiniakos F.C. , the Panelefsiniakos Athletic Club, is a football club based in the city of Eleusina, Greece.-History:Panelefsiniakos was formed in 1928. The club has played in the top level of Greek football, the Alpha Ethniki, three times , but was relegated after each season...
Climate
The HNMS weather station of Eleusina has an average maximum July temperature of 33.0°C (1958-2001 HNMS) and . The Eleusina phainomenon is not yet completely understood however factors of geomorphology, warm water masses in the summer and warm winds might be responsible for its summer climate. According to Kassomenos and Katsoulis (2006), based on 12 years of data (1990–2001), the industrialization of west Attica, where at least 40% of the industrial activity of the country is concentrated, could be the cause of the warm climate of the zone.European Temperature Record
Eleusina is one of the two Athenian suburbs (the other one is Tatoi) with the highest ever officially recorded temperature in Europe according to the World Meteorological Organization of 48.0°C (118.4°F), on 10 July 1977, by the use of minimum-maximum thermometers.Historical population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 20,320 |
| 1991 | 22,793 |
| 2001 | 25,863 |
Notable people
- AeschylusAeschylusAeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
(c. 525 BC/524 BC – c. 456 BC/455 BC), playwright and veteran of the Battle of MarathonBattle of MarathonThe Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate... - Stelios KazantzidisStelios KazantzidisStylianos Kazantzidis was a prominent Greek singer. A leading singer of Greek popular music, or Laïkó, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost composers.-Biography :...
(1931–2001), singer - Orestis Laskos (1908–1992), director, screenwriter and actor
- Vangelis LiapisVangelis LiapisVangelis Liapis was a Greek scholar and folklorist of Arvanite origin.- Life :Vangelis Liapis was born on 14 August 1914 in Eleusina near Athens, Greece. In 1932 he entered the...
(1914–2008), scholar and folklorist - Theodoros PangalosTheodoros PangalosTheodoros Pangalos is a Greek politician and leading member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the Greek government, responsible for the coordination of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense and the new Economic & Social Policy...
(1938– ), politician - Ioannis KalitzakisIoannis KalitzakisIoannis "Giannis" Kalitzakis is a retired Greek football defender.He started his career in Panelefsiniakos F.C., where he played three and a half season before eventually joining Panathinaikos FC. Panathinaikos's fans nicknamed him "ninja" as he made a name of his hard tackles and very strong...
(1966- ), footballer