Eleusis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Eleusis (/ɪˈljuːsɪs/ ih-LEW-siss)^[1] or Eleusinus (Ancient Greek: Ἐλευσῖνι, romanized: Eleusîni, or Ἐλευσῖνα, Eleusîna) was the eponymous hero of the town of Eleusis.

Eleusis
Eponym of Eleusis
Other names	Eleusinus
Abode	Eleusis
Genealogy
Parents	(1) Hermes and (2) Daeira; (3) Ogygus
Siblings	half-siblings: (2) Immaradus and Semele; (3) Cadmus, Aulis, Alalcomenia, and Thelxinia
Consort	Cothonea
Offspring	Triptolemus

Family

Eleusis was a son of Hermes and the Oceanid Daeira, or of Ogygus.^[2] Panyassis wrote of him as father of Triptolemus, adding that "Demeter came to him";^[3] this version of the myth is found in the works of Hyginus and Servius. In other accounts, Eleusis had no offspring.

Mythology

King Eleusis and Cothonea (Cyntinia), parents of Triptolemus, are visited by Demeter, who rears their son, feeding him divine milk by day and placing him into the fire at night, which makes Triptolemus grow faster than mortal children normally do. She eventually kills Eleusis for intervening when the fire ritual is performed.^[4] The myth is closely parallel with the one that deals with Demeter visiting Celeus and Metaneira (also possible parents of Triptolemus) and nursing their son Demophon.^[5]

In other accounts, Eleusis appears as a female character.^[6]

See also

• List of Greek deities