엘레우시스와 아테네: 고대 그리스 폴리스의 정치적ㆍ지역적 연계의 유연성

Abstract

The demes as regional units, which constitute the polis, Athens, had double sides of feature in political structures and religious aspects. Each deme was a constituent of the central polis, Athens, as well as an independent local unit. Eleusis was a matter of concern to Athens, being some far away to the western frontier of the Athenian city and at the same time nearer to the Peloponnesian Peninsula. In extraordinary situations of war, civil disturbances or so, there was always a possibility of break-away between some of the local demes and the core of the Athenian city(asty). Some local units had an autogenous structure to survive alone. Even if in peaceful time, Eleusis, as well as some other demes, tended to be a subject of self decision for local affairs. The decision used to be made in the Eleusinian assembly(demos), and its representative was 'demarchos(director of deme)'. Eleusinians decided, in detail, on the privilege of tax-free given to foreign person, opening the market by special decree to all the people of another deme, defining consumption of joint earnings from mining industry for definite purposes, awarding the crown of glory to person having rendered services to Eleusis itself or to the Athenian polis, and so on. The rite of Demeter was not exclusively indigenous to Eleusis, but widely spread to the whole of Greece, like that of Dionysos or so. In my opinion, the significance of Demeter Mystery of Eleusis which was performed in connection with the Athenian city as well as Phaleron in the coast has to be considered in the point of political ties. Different from the rite of Heracleia or Theseia which tended easily to be associated with somewhat limited group, the rite of Demeter which referred to a symbol of a nature, cereal, the most important for human living, could be exploited to integrate various regions, heterogeneous people without causing any serious aversion. On the other hand, we have to consider that in Eleusis there were various rites not only for Demeter but also other deities. Especially, it is proved that the Eleusinians worshiped Heracles as a daily practice, who could be regarded as a sacred ancester of Dorians. The fact can be taken for granted, the geographical position of Eleusis approaching to the Peloponnesian Peninsula considered.