Archaeological Museum of Eleusis

About the museum

The museum building was erected in 1890 to designs by the architect Ioannis Mousis, to house the finds from the extensive excavations at the sanctuary of Eleusis. It is one of the oldest museums in the country: a single-storey stone building with five halls at first, to which a sixth was added in the early 1930s.

During the Second World War the most important antiquities were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum, others were hidden in an ancient cistern on the hill and in pits around the building, while the bulky works were protected in place with sacks of earth. Restoration began in 1947, and in 1960 the museum was renovated and enriched with finds from the sanctuary and from the cemeteries of the ancient city, especially the Western Cemetery.

Since 2018 the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica has undertaken the re-display of the collection. The new permanent exhibition is organised along two thematic axes: one presents the city of Eleusis around the sanctuary and its cultic, economic and social life, the other the Great Mysteries and the cult of Demeter and Kore. The project was funded by the Ministry of Culture and by a donation from the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Foundation.

Highlights

• The Proto-Attic amphora with the blinding of Polyphemus and the beheading of Medusa
• The “Fleeing Kore” and vessels with relief scenes from the myth of Demeter
• One of the Caryatids of the sanctuary and a copy of the Great Eleusinian Relief
• Burial assemblages from the Western and Southern Cemeteries
• Digital applications and virtual tour of the sanctuary buildings

Permanent exhibitions

• Ελευσίνα: η πόλη γύρω από το ιερό – The position of the city and its relationship with Athens, the local economy, cults and everyday life, with a chronology of the historical periods and burial assemblages from the cemeteries, among them the Proto-Attic amphora with Polyphemus and Medusa.
• Τα Μεγάλα Μυστήρια – The “Fleeing Kore”, the architectural development of the sanctuary, clay votives, Roman votives with one of the Caryatids, and the Telesterion with an audiovisual installation and a copy of the Great Eleusinian Relief.

Founded

1890

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Δυτικής Αττικής

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.

The combined ticket is valid for the archaeological museum and the archaeological site of Eleusis.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car the museum is about 40 minutes from the centre of Athens.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

On site there are a shop, toilets, WiFi and a car park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit