day 7: initiation of the highest degree: the telesterion

After a day of rest, the second night of initiation would begin. This was reserved for those who had been initiated already, and were seeking the final experience. The narrative here again is largely lost but piecing together what we do know, those that were here for night two. The first was re-enactment of a subterranean decent by Persephone into the underworld. This is largely just allegorical here as there is not a chamber underneat the telesterion. Next would come ritual dancing, singing and speaking. Next there was a point where the initiates were essentially terrified in a variety of ways such as a female dressed up with snakes in her hair and other ritualistic actions meant to terrify. Finally at the climax all would be quiet and still and under bursting flame light the Archon, reaped one ear of wheat, next to a sacred statue of Demeter, and proclaimed that the goddess had given birth to a 'strong one'. This would signify a healthy spring cultivation for the coming year.