Fountain
The Fountain was included in the overall planning of the large court (square) in Roman times and is dated to the 2nd cent. AD. It served the needs of the worshippers upon arrival at the Sanctuary, and their cleansing before advancing into its interior.
Of this magnificent edifice only the Π-shaped substructure of the cistern is today preserved, its open side measuring 11,30m, facing east, towards the large court, as well as a raised platform of white marble with eight basin-like depressions into which flowed out the water from eight spouts.
A second raised platform of blue marble, a little lower than the first one, with a channel across it led off the water of the Fountain into the central drain towards the east, outside the walls.
The superstructure was lined with marble and had six monolithic unfluted columns with elaborate capitals.
The architect A. Orlandos, who prepared a drawing representation of the entire Fountain edifice, pointed out the similarity of the columns and the elaborate cornice of the superstructure to the external view of Hadrian’s Library and attributed its construction to the philhellene emperor (117-138 AD).
The Fountain together with the Greater Propylaea and the pair of identical Triumphal Arches is the third building of the eleusinian Sanctuary that was constructed in Roman times and imitates similar Athenian edifices.
8099