The Eleusinian Mysteries in Egypt

Abstract

The Eleusinian mysteries are one of the mysteries appeared in Egypt during the Ptolemaic period and continued in the Roman Era. They were performed in honor of goddesses Demeter and Persephone who were among the most famous prominent, and elegant deities of Greek mystery cults. These mysteries had been celebrated in a specific place, at Eleusis, a significant town in Attica about twenty-one kilometers northwest of Athens. As a result, Eleusis became an important religious center in Greek culture. There are a variety of stories and legends to be found around the theme of these mysteries in Egypt. There is a set of archaeological evidence for the existence of such mysteries inside Egypt. This paper aims to explore the evidence of practicing these mysteries in Egypt during the Graeco-Roman period through both literary texts and various artefacts.