At the Sacred Way’s end, extensive construction at the large paved courtyard catered to both religious and practical needs. Offerings to the gods were made on altars along the street’s right, while a new fountain on the left signified a new era for the sanctuary.
Under Roman Emperor Hadrian and his successors, prestigious Greek shrines received attention, with major landscaping and construction projects highlighting the imperial commitment to ancient traditions and rituals. These efforts reflected the emperors’ desire to immortalise their participation in religious festivals and their commitment to preserving Greek gods and sanctuaries. The projects often included monumental fountains, strategically placed to provide drinking water in areas bustling with ritual activities, ideally near ancient sacred water sources.
This Eleusinian fountain, lined with marble, with a Π-shaped reservoir and six columns, featured eight troughs that left circular depressions on the marble floor in front. Contrary to the typical Greek architectural practice of placing fountains behind arcades, the Roman fountain’s open design emphasised water as the central element, pushing columns to a decorative background.
Beyond aesthetic appeal, the fountain was strategically located, near the Kallichoron well, where Demeter had rested in her search for Persephone. Thus it provided a refreshing stop for mystai tired from their journey along the Sacred Way and access to one of Eleusis’s most sacred landmarks. During the initial six days of the Greater Mysteries, a series of preparatory rituals were conducted, priming the mystai for the divine truth’s unveiling on the seventh night. As the procession night and the subsequent day were laden with excitement and preparatory activities for entry into the sanctuary, the space before the Propylaea teemed with people. Here, they observed the contrast between the esteemed Kallichoron well, a revered site, and the contemporary amenities provided by the Roman emperor, notably the fountain.
The identity of the emperor who donated the fountain and its construction date are unclear. However, a partial inscription from the area near the Greater Propylaea suggests it may have been Hadrian’s contribution to the goddesses and the sanctuary.
