Kore

Κόρη (Kórē) – A young girl or maiden, often used in classical texts to describe an unmarried young woman. This term is famous in mythological contexts (e.g., Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was referred to as Κόρη before her abduction). generally associated with the period beforefull maturity, specifically pre-pubescent or early pubescent, or who is in the early stages of puberty. also carries associations of virginity and innocence. she would not yet be considered fully mature (either physically or socially). This means Κόρη is closer to pre-pubescence, with some overlap into early puberty, but not yet fully developed as an adult woman.

κόρη , ἡ, orig. κόρϝα (v. infr. B), with κόρ-η even in Att. Prose and Trag. dialogue; Dor. and Aeol. κόρα , Ar.Lys.1308 (lyr.), Alc.14, also Trag. in lyr. as A.Supp.145, S.OT508, E.Tr.561, and in the pr. n.: κούρα Pi.O.13.65, and twice in Trag. (in lyr.), v. infr. 1.3: Ion. κούρη, as always in Hom. (κόρη first in h.Cer.439): Dor. also κώραTheoc.6.36, also Boeot., Corinn.Supp.1.48, 2.60 (but
A.“κόρα” IG7.71012, Ar.Ach.883, cf. κορικός, κόριλλα):—fem.of κόρος, κοῦρος.

1. girl, “ἠΰτε κούρη νηπίη ἥ θ᾽ ἅμα μητρὶ θέουσ᾽ ἀνελέσθαι ἀνώγει” Il.16.7; “μήτε παῖδα μήτε κόραν” Schwyzer 324.12(Delph., iv B. C.); “ἔτεκε κόραν” IG42 (1).121.22 (Epid.); with reference to virginity, maiden, “κόρην . . οὐκέτ᾽, ἀλλ᾽ἐζευγμένην” S.Tr.536; “παῖς κ.” Ar.Lys.595, D.21.79 codd.; “παρθενικὴ κ.” E.Epigr.2; “ἀδελφὴ κ.” Th.6.56; “ἀνεδέξαντο τὰς κόρας πέμψειν ἐν Ἴλιον” Schwyzer 366 A2 (Tolophon, iii B. C.); of Nymphs, Pi.P.3.78; ἐνάλιοι κ. sea-nymphs, Ar.Th.325 (lyr.): Com., πρέσβειρα πεντήκοντα Κωπᾴδων κορᾶν, of eels, Id.Ach.883; τευθὶς καὶ Φαληρικὴ κ., i.e. ἀφύη, Eub.75.4; of maiden-goddesses, however old, as the Eumenides, A.Eu.68, S.OC127 (lyr.); the Phorcids, A.Pr.794; the Sphinx, S.OT508 (lyr.); the Fates, Pl.R.617d.
2. of a bride, Od.18.279; young wife, Il.6.247, E.Or.1438(lyr.), Hdn.3.10.8; or concubine, as Briseis, Il.1.98, 337, 2.689; καταχύσματα . . κατάχει τοῦ νυμφίου καὶ τῆς κ. the bride, Theopomp.Com.14; of a ἑταίρα, AP5.4 (Stat.Flacc.), 219(Agath.).
3. with gen. of a pr. n. added, daughter, “νύμφαι κοῦραι Διός” Il.6.420, cf. Sapph.65, E.Hel.168 (lyr.), Andr.897, etc.; κ. Διός, of Athene, A.Eu.415; Λητῴα κόρη, of Artemis, Id.Fr.170, S.El.570; κ. Ἰναχεία, κ. Θεστιάς, A.Pr.589, E.Hel.133; Γῆς τε καὶ Σκότου κόραι, i.e. the Furies, S.OC40; in Thess. Prose, Αἰσχυλὶς Σατύροι (gen.) “κόρα” IG9(2).1035 (Gyrton): without gen., Berl.Sitzb. 1927.7 (Locr., V B.C.): in voc., κούρα my daughter, A.Th.148, S.OC 180 (both lyr.); “κόραι” Ar.Pax119.
4. metaph., of a colony, “Κύμης κ.” Hom.Epigr.1.2; of newly-launched ships, Lyc.24.

II. puppet, doll, as a child's plaything, Hyp.Fr.199 (v. infr. v), D.Chr.31.153; small votive image, Pl.Phdr.230b.
III. pupil of the eye, because a little image appears therein (v. Pl.Alc.1.133a), “κύκλοπα κούρην” Emp.84.8, cf. S.Fr.710, E.Hec.972, al., Ar.V.7, Hp.Prorrh.2.20, Gal.UP10.4, Ruf.Onom.23; “αἱ καλούμεναι κ.” IG42(1).122.67 (Epid., iv B. C.); K. κόσμου, title of Hermetic tract, Stob.1.49.44 tit.
IV. long sleeve reaching over the hand, X.HG2.1.8.
V. the Attic drachma, because it bore a head of Athena, misinterpr. of Hyp.l.c. ap. Poll.9.74.
VI. = ὑπέρεικον, Hp. ap. Gal.19.113.
VII. Archit., female figures as supports, Caryatids, “τοὺς λίθους . . τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν κορῶν” IG12.372.86 (Erechtheum).

B. Κόρη , Dor. Κόρα (Cret. Κώρα GDI5047), Ion. Κούρη , Arc.(?) Κόρϝα IG5(2).554 (provenance unknown), ἡ:—the Daughter (of Demeter), Persephone, τῇ Μητρὶ καὶ τῇ Κόρῃ (v.l. Κούρῃ) Hdt.8.65; “ναὶ τὰν Κόραν” Ar.V.1438; Δημήτηρ καὶ K. Id.Th.298, X.HG6.3.6, IG2.1217, etc.; “τῆς Κόρης ἁρπασθείσης” Isoc.4.28: less freq. K. “Δήμητρος” E.Alc.358, cf. Ar.Ra.337; K. “τὴν Διὸς καὶ Δήμητρος” Isoc.10.20.

II. Δηοῦς κ., in Com., = flour, Antiph.52.9; so “μεμαγμένη Δήμητρος κ.” Eub.75.10.

In the Mysteries

the Kore herself was not the officiant, but rather the central divine figure around whom the mystery drama revolved.

However, in some cases, women embodied the Kore during ritual, and priestesses served in her name, possibly speaking with her voice in oracular or ecstatic moments.

The Kore in the Mystery Cults

Eleusinian Mysteries (Demeter & Kore / Persephone)

The Kore is Persephone, the maiden daughter of Demeter, abducted by Hades into the underworld.
Her descent (katabasis), abduction, and eventual return (anodos) are the mythic core of the initiation rites.
She embodies vegetative rebirth, initiation through death, and the cyclical nature of life.
The rites at Eleusis dramatized this descent and return, offering initiates a symbolic journey into death and revelation of life in the aion (ζωή).

Role of Priestesses and the Living Kore

While the goddess Kore was not the priestess herself, certain women served her cultic role, such as:

The Hierophantís (ἱεροφάντις) – a high-ranking female priestess at Eleusis.
The Dadouchos (torch-bearer) – may have enacted or assisted in the sacred drama.
Certain initiands or neophytes, often young girls, were dressed as kore-figures or Arrephoroi in symbolic roles.

At times, the priestess may channel oracles, but oracular utterance was more central in cults like Delphic Apollo or Sabazios, not so much in Eleusis. However, ecstatic identification with the goddess could occur during the rite.

Symbolic Identity of the Kore

From a mystery cult perspective:

The Kore is you — the initiate.
You descend into the dark. You emerge reborn.
She is the soul (ψυχή) — abducted, veiled, buried, and then glorified.

Summary

Kore is not the priestess officiating the rite, but the goddess at the heart of the ritual drama.
Her myth embodies the initiation cycle of loss, descent, death, revelation, and rebirth.
Female priestesses may represent or channel her presence, but Kore herself is the divine mystery unveiled.
In the mysteries, to follow the path of Kore is to become her.