telesterion

American  

[tel-uh-steer-ee-on] / ˌtɛl əˈstɪər iˌɒn /

noun

plural

telesteria

1. (in ancient Greece) a building in which religious mysteries were celebrated.

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Etymology

Origin of telesterion

< Greek telestḗrion place for initiation, equivalent to teles-, stem of teleîn to fulfill, initiate ( tele- ² ) + -tērion neuter noun suffix denoting place

Example Sentences

From the Small Propylaea a paved road of Roman date leads to one of the doors of the Telesterion.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond this, close to the side of the Telesterion, are the foundations of a temple on higher ground; it has been conjectured that this was the temple of Demeter, but there is no evidence that such a building existed in historic times, apart from the Telesterion.

From Project Gutenberg

The Telesterion, or Hall of Initiation, was a large covered building, about 170 ft. square.

From Project Gutenberg

This was succeeded by a square hall, almost of the same plan as the later Telesterion, but about a quarter of the size; its eastern corner coincides with that of the later building, and it appears to have had a portico in front like that which, in the later hall, was a later addition.

From Project Gutenberg

The Telesterion took up the greater part of the sacred precinct, which seems merely to have served to keep the profane away from the temple.

From Project Gutenberg