Eleusis, Archaeological site in Elefsina Municipality, Greece

Eleusis is an archaeological site in Elefsina, Greece, with remains from the Bronze Age through Roman times. A wooden walkway crosses gray bedrock and dirt, passing stacked pale stone blocks and terraced slopes; a small white building with a tiled roof stands at the top left. Lower down, low stone wall segments and rectangular outlines lie partly buried in dry earth.

Eleusis has been occupied since the Bronze Age and grew over centuries into a religious center that drew visitors from across the ancient Greek world. Many of the structures still visible today, including the Greater Propylaea, were built or rebuilt during the Roman period.

The name Eleusis is tied to the Eleusinian Mysteries, ancient rites that drew people from across Greece to this site. Visitors today can still see the Kallichoron Well, where the goddess Demeter is said to have rested during her search for Persephone.

The site covers a wide area with uneven ground, so comfortable and sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. On warm days, bringing water and sun protection is a good idea, as shaded areas are limited.

The Samian Ware found at Eleusis is not from the island of Samos: the term refers to Roman red-gloss tableware made in workshops such as those at Arezzo and in Gaul, and the sherds here record long-distance trade in fine pottery. Look for the small, hard, red-slipped fragments among the stone remains.