It is no coincidence that the guide tour of the today’s visitors to the archaeological site starts from the same place that pilgrims in the antiquity started their initiation to the mysteries. Three roads led into the court. The Sacred Way, the road from Eleusina’s harbor and the road from Megara which came to the west arch.
In Roman Era, a paved court was created with arches and porticos which drove to the whole sanctuary. It has 65 meters length and 40 meters width, an irregular trapezoid shape and it was paved with large rectangular marble slabs. It was here that the participants of the Mysteries gathered for the festival’s preparation and observance.
The court was the object of special attention by the Roman emperors who adorned it with fine buildings Some of the buildings and the structures which adorn the court are the following: The foundations of the northeast and northwest stoa which connects the court with the shrine, the bottom of the cistern for the fountain, a collection of various architectural members from the east and west arch, the foundations of a semicircular building probably the exedra from which the sanctuary officials watched the arrival of the procession and various sacrifices in honour of the goddesses, temple and altars of Artemis Propylaia and Poseidon Pater, the remains of a Roman Eshara an altar almost contemporary with the court. Also, more splendid buildings are surrounded the court. Last but not least, the Kallichoron well, the Greater and Lesser Propylaia...
