Eleusinian Mysteries

Do we really know what happened during the Eleusinian Mysteries? Despite extensive research, the true nature of these ancient rituals continues to elude us, leaving room for speculation and wonder. RODA theatre group’s new musical performance, titled Eleusinian Mysteries, pays tribute to these ancient rites and to the city of Elefsina, the 2023 European Capital of Culture, with an attempt to “revive” the ecstatic atmosphere of the enigmatic celebration.

The Mysteries represented the myth of the abduction of Persephone from her mother Demeter, goddess of agriculture and fertility, by the king of the underworld Hades and were connected to the changing of the seasons and to beliefs about the afterlife. After years of research, RODA theatre group presents their interpretation of the rituals in their Eleusinian Mysteries play, part of the International Petra Festival. Note that even though the performance does not include English subtitles, it does rely heavily on music, song, and dance to immerse us in the atmosphere and transport us back in time.