The end of the Eleusinian mysteries

[Jona Lendering]

Does anyone know when the Eleusinian mysteries came to an end? The Neue Pauly does not give a clue, Wiki says 392-396 but offers no sources. Anyone?

[Ioannis]

Jona,

The Mysteries must have been banned by Theodosius along with all the other pagan festivals. So we are talking about the period around 391 AD.

[Jona Lendering]

Yes, plausible, but is there a source referring to the Mysteries explicitly? (Under Theodosian edicts, the Alexandrian Museum ought to have been closed too, but it was still functioning in 415. The Athenian Academy was closed by Justinian.)

[Robert Vermaat]

I agree with Jona. A legal ban did not necessarily mean that the institute in question was immediately closed. Sometimes you find repeat laws. Look at the ban on gladiatorial games..

[Jona Lendering]

Perhaps I must add that Synesius (In Praise of Baldness, 7), writing at the end of the fourth century, speaks about the Mysteries in the present tense. The speech is written between 387 and 400. I am hoping to find a text in which is said "this year no Mysteries" or something like that, so that I can narrow down the date of this speech.

[hoplite14gr]

"Secretive" cults are more dificult to suppress.
I belive that Justinian is the one who managed to completely suppress the ancient faith.
Nikon a 7th century monk cites ancient faith rituals in Lakonia and Crete.
Kind regards

[TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS]

If you mean the eleusin misteries in the Demetra's temple of Eleusis they ended with the invasion by Alaric (395-396 c.e.) even if it seems he was not the actual destructor of the temple.

from Burckardt - Gregorovius "Sitzungsber. d. Munich. Akad. d. Wiss.", 1886, file I

Valete,

[hoplite14gr]

Well Alarics troopers would damage only with the aim of taking precious items. Later era monks and Justinian have been accused for systematic destruction.
Kind regards