ELEUSINIA, el-en-sf -nt-a, the solemn cele bration of the mysteries to Ceres (Demeter) and • Prpserpine (Persephb'nd) at Eleusis, instituted by Eumolpus (or Musmus, or Erechtheus), or by Triptoleinu (q.- v.), when Ceres herself visited Attica in her search for Proserpine. The superintendence was vested in the Eumolpid (q. v.), a priestly family, and partly in their branch the Ceryces. The Eleusinia were di vided into the Lesser (Tit ,to‘wi), celebrated at Agra: on the flissus,and the Greater(rfr '
('loKxoe) the statue of Ceres' son lacchos, adorned with a myrtle garland, and with a torch in one hand, was borne, amid shouts and festal songs, and accompanied by a great throng, from the Ceramicus to Eleusis, where, during the night, the p6irrut repeated the oath, were again purified and led by the ”iftrityytoyeic to undergo the complete initiation
in the sanctuary, and now were called eadarar, as fully initiated by actual insfiection. Each rri:nrrric was sent away with the words 1 p vra6 (corruption for Ki.g, 6,uoi(n
and on the next (the seventh) day the ;2 02 rat marched back to Athens amid raillery and jests (avbitmara, yectannon6c), especially at the bridge over the Cephisns, commemorative of Iambe's or Banbo's jests to dispel Ceres' grief. The eighth,' Line up o,institutedwhenAsclepius came too late from Epidaurus, was devoted to the initiation of those by any reason omitted on the seventh day. On the ninth
tittoxua I) two little cups were filled with wine and water, and the contents of the one were thrown to the east, and of the other to the west, while mystical words were uttered. The Eleusinia, which were regarded as
the initiated more under the protection of the gods here and hereafter, continued down to the time of the elder Theodosius (A.D. 380).
ELEUSIS, a town of Attica, mid way between Hegira and the, Pirmus, founded by Triptolemus (see ELEUSINIA).