Oculi Omnes Videntes (Hierophant of Eleusis)
mixed media on wood panel
27” x 51” x 2”
2024

The Rites of Eleusis, or Eleusinian Mysteries, were ancient Greek religious ceremonies held annually in honor of Demeter and Persephone, goddesses of agriculture and fertility. Dating back to around 1500 BCE and continuing until the 4th century CE, these rites were among the most significant and secretive in ancient Greece, taking place in Eleusis, near Athens. The Mysteries revolved around the myth of Demeter and Persephone, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and the seasonal changes essential to agriculture.

Participants, known as initiates, underwent purification rituals, fasting, and other preparations before engaging in the secretive ceremonies, which were divided into the Lesser Mysteries (spring) and the Greater Mysteries (fall). While details remain largely unknown due to the vow of secrecy, it is believed the ceremonies included reenactments of the Demeter and Persephone myth, ritual dances, and the consumption of kykeon. These rites were thought to offer profound spiritual insights, symbolizing death and rebirth, and promising a deeper understanding of life's cycles and the afterlife. Highly respected, the Eleusinian Mysteries attracted people from all walks of life and influenced Greek culture and spirituality profoundly, with their legacy enduring even after they were suppressed during the rise of Christianity in the late Roman period.