Roman House

In Roman times buildings were constructed outside the walled area of the Sanctuary. Apart from the public buildings that were meant for accommodating the needs of the worshippers, such as hotels and baths, there also were private ones which were the houses of prominent persons. The best preserved example is the luxurious rectangular two-storey house of the 2^nd cent. AD, on the south slope of the ancient acropolis hill.

The so-called Roman House, the north wall of which was the city wall with the bedrock exposed underneath it, measured 26,50x13,50m. It consists of small rectangular rooms arranged around a square courtyard (atrium) with a small marble pool (impluvium) in the center and mosaic floor.

Better preserved are the north rooms that have wall-painted ornamentation and mosaic floors decorated with geometric motifs. Most probably these were the reception and dining spaces for the guests (tablinum). On the east side of the atrium there was a staircase that led to the second floor. A second yard on the south side was perhaps used as garden and place for attending the races that were taking place in the nearby stadium.

The privileged location as well as a pan tile that comes from the tiled roof and bears the inscription ΙΕΡΑ ΕΛΕΥΣΙΝΟΣ/ SACRED OF ELEUSIS, indicate its use as residence by a member of the priesthood of the eleusinian Sanctuary.

Church of Virgin Mary (Panagia Mesosporitissa) Sacred House