Mysteries in Greece

Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries

The Sanctuary of Eleusis is situated 22 km west of Athens, bordered on its south side by the Saronic bay.Today it's a very interesting archaeological site.
The name Eleusis comes from the Greek word for"arrival" as masses of people would arrive here for the sacred rituals known as the "Eleusinian Mysteries" held in the honor of the Great goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone.
The information we have from ancient sources (including Pausanias) about the Sanctuary and the sacred rituals performed there is almost non existent as it was strictly  forbidden under penalty of death even to talk about them. So the Eleusinian Mysteries are still a mystery to us and the only certain thing is that they were related to life after death and the preparations for it.
Euripides , the famous tragic poet, wrote:"Happy will be the mortal who has participated in the initiations, for when he descends to Hades, he will gain eternal life, while others will know only despair and Hell"
The Sanctuary was administrated by the Eumolpids and the Kerykes, all coming from royal descent as the cult of the goddess was started during the Mycenaean times by the king who was also the High Priest. The ritual lasted for nine days. The first dedicated to sacrifices and purifications in Athens. The seventh day a procession would start from the city and following the Sacred Way 22 km long, would reach Eleusis by dusk with the high priest bearing the "Hiera" (sacred objects). The last two nights the sacred rites would take place in the "Telesterion" the most important building in the Sanctuary, the holiest of the holies, the Hall of the initiations.
The Telesterion is an almost square building and there were seats for 3.000 people that could participate the "dromena", the sacred performances .
Next to the Teleterion , where the rock forms a cavernlike opening , is the Plutonion (symbolic entrance to Hades, the god of the underworld. This was the spot where Hades disappeared taking with him Persephone, the beloved daughter of Demeter.

Written by Sophia Kokkinou, archaeologist/guide/writer


Cars roll uphill on Pentelikon mountain

On Pentelikon mountain, which is situated northeast of Athens and southeast of Marathon, there is a particular spot of a road that is considered to have anti-gravity properties, as the cars can roll "upwards".

If you stop your car on this spot, put it in neutral and let off the brake, you will realize that it will roll uphill.

Some scientists claim that this is just an optical illusion. They explain that sometimes hilly areas where the horizon is obscure it is difficult to judge the slope of a surface. If the horizon cannot be seen we may be fooled by objects , as for example trees, that we expect to be vertical but in reality they might be leaning. Thus, a very slight downhill slope appears to be un uphill slope.

But apart this scientific theory there is one that claims that the phenomenon is consequence of electromagnetic and gravitational fields.

Others believe that this is a product of supernatural forces that scientists cannot explain.

At this point we should mention also some other clues that should be taken under consideration.

Pentelikon is a mountain on which several other strange things are happening.

The existence of other mysterious places in this area as the cave of Davelis , which is a place of worship from the antiquity till today, the tower of duchess of Plakentia (places for which we will give more details at another article).The existence of an American base at nearby Nea Makri and the military installations at several places on the mountain that were officially telecommunication installations. The strong interest of the military about the area. The mysterious works that took place in the area and the report of mysterious phenomena, as strange lights and sounds, paranormal activity and Ufos. Last but not least we should mention the fact that it's from this mountain that ancient Greeks took the marbles to build the Parthenon on the Acropolis Hill. It is a fact that over the Acropolis birds don't fly and the function of cell phones is affected.

So, is it just an optical illusion or there is something deeper?