Initiation of *Heracles* and the *Dioscuri* into the lesser mysteries at Eleusis
Demeter, Persephone, Triptolemus & the lesser mysteries of Eleusis [380-360]
Benevent Campanien - London BM F68
Side (a)
Initiation of *Heracles* and the *Dioscuri* into the lesser mysteries at Agrae (or Eleusis): In the centre is *Persephone* standing half-turned to right, with long hair, beaded ampyx, earrings, necklace, bracelets, transparent white chiton with looped-up sleeves, himation held up in left hand, sandals, and torch in right hand; at her feet is *Demeter* seated to left, looking back at her. Demeter has long hair, beaded ampyx, earrings, necklace, bracelets, long chiton with diploidion, and sceptre in right hand; below her are a footstool and two uncertain objects of oblong shape; the flesh of both figures is painted white, with ornaments and features in yellow.
Persephone looks back at *Triptolemos*, who is seated to left looking up at her, in his winged carriage drawn by two white serpents; he is beardless, with long curls, laurel-wreath, and himation over left shoulder. Above him is *Eumolpos*, acting as μυσταγωγός (mystagogos, instigator to the mysteries) he moves to left, looking back, and is beardless, with long curls, fillet and laurel-wreath, girt chiton reaching to the knee with embroidered band on bosom, endromides, and torch in right hand; he leads up one of the Dioscuri, who is beardless, with wreath, chlamys over shoulders, and a large torch painted white in right hand; in front of his head is a star of nine points. On the left *Iachos* approaches, beardless, with fillet and laurel-wreath, chiton as Eumolpos, beaded girdle, chlamys over right arm, endromides, torch in right hand, left extended; he is followed by *Heracles*, and, on a higher level, the other of the Dioscuri.
Heracles looks back, and is beardless, with short curly hair, wreath, chlamys over shoulders, torch in right hand and club in left; the Dioscuros is beardless, with wreath, himation over left shoulder, and torch in right hand. Behind, over an uneven line indicating a hill, appear six Doric columns, over four of which is a white architrave, possibly representing the temple of Demeter at Agrae.
Source: London BM F78
Initiation of *Heracles* and the *Dioscuri* into the lesser mysteries at Eleusis
Demeter, Persephone, Triptolemus & the lesser mysteries of Eleusis [380-360]
Benevent Campanien - London BM F68
Side (a)
Initiation of *Heracles* and the *Dioscuri* into the lesser mysteries at Agrae (or Eleusis): In the centre is *Persephone* standing half-turned to right, with long hair, beaded ampyx, earrings, necklace, bracelets, transparent white chiton with looped-up sleeves, himation held up in left hand, sandals, and torch in right hand; at her feet is *Demeter* seated to left, looking back at her. Demeter has long hair, beaded ampyx, earrings, necklace, bracelets, long chiton with diploidion, and sceptre in right hand; below her are a footstool and two uncertain objects of oblong shape; the flesh of both figures is painted white, with ornaments and features in yellow.
Persephone looks back at *Triptolemos*, who is seated to left looking up at her, in his winged carriage drawn by two white serpents; he is beardless, with long curls, laurel-wreath, and himation over left shoulder. Above him is *Eumolpos*, acting as μυσταγωγός (mystagogos, instigator to the mysteries) he moves to left, looking back, and is beardless, with long curls, fillet and laurel-wreath, girt chiton reaching to the knee with embroidered band on bosom, endromides, and torch in right hand; he leads up one of the Dioscuri, who is beardless, with wreath, chlamys over shoulders, and a large torch painted white in right hand; in front of his head is a star of nine points. On the left *Iachos* approaches, beardless, with fillet and laurel-wreath, chiton as Eumolpos, beaded girdle, chlamys over right arm, endromides, torch in right hand, left extended; he is followed by *Heracles*, and, on a higher level, the other of the Dioscuri.
Heracles looks back, and is beardless, with short curly hair, wreath, chlamys over shoulders, torch in right hand and club in left; the Dioscuros is beardless, with wreath, himation over left shoulder, and torch in right hand. Behind, over an uneven line indicating a hill, appear six Doric columns, over four of which is a white architrave, possibly representing the temple of Demeter at Agrae.
Source: London BM F78