In the vicinity of the modern Greek city of Eleusis lie the ruins of the ancient Greek settlement of the same name, which is one of the largest religious centers of the ancient world and became known as the location where the famous mysteries.

Today the ruins of the ancient Eleusis is an important historical and archaeological sites. Here you will find an excellent Archaeological Museum, the collection of which is represented by most of the unique ancient artifacts found during excavations.

Archaeological excavations of ancient Eleusis began in 1882. As the first results were quite promising, it was soon decided to build at the site of a special building for the Archaeological Museum. Construction of the museum began in 1889.

A collection of the Archaeological Museum is vast and diverse and covers a vast period of time, starting from the 20th century BC and ending with the early Christian period. In the museum you can see a great collection of ceramics, sculpture, various architectural fragments, metalwork, inscriptions, reliefs, etc. A significant part of the exposure is directly related to the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Two of the most valuable pieces found during excavations - a huge relief (height about 2 m 2), dating from the 5th century BC with the image of Demeter, Persephone and the king of Eleusis Triptolemus and clay tablet (about 370 BC) with fragments of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Today, these unique artifacts are stored in the Archaeological Museum of Athens, and the Museum of Eleusis are presented copies.

Among the most interesting and valuable artifacts presented in the museum can be noted famous amphora Eleusis (7th century BC), depicting scenes where Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, as Perseus beheaded Medusa and sculpture from the pediments Eleusinian sanctuary (490- 480 BC), the so-called "flying bark." No less interesting and the marble sarcophagus of the Roman era depicting hunting scenes in the Calydonian Boar (2nd century BC), the headless statue of Demeter (5th century BC) and of Asclepius (4th century BC. e.) and black-figure amphora with painted vases (520 BC). Also pay attention to the Caryatids (1st century BC) to the Small Propylaea and the two plaster models, giving an idea of ​​how to look ancient sanctuary in the 6th century BC and in the Roman period.