Dysaules was the father of Triptolemus and Eubouleus. He was also a brother of Celeus. The people of Celeae told Pausanias that Dysaules came to their land and introduced the Eleusinian Mysteries after being expelled from Eleusis by Ion. He was the son of Xuthus and had been chosen by the Athenians to be commander-in-chief in a war against Eleusis. Pausanias rejected this version since he knew that the war had ended in a treaty, and Eumolpus remained in Eleusis. Pausanias refused to believe that Dysaules was related to Celeus because Homer does not mention him in his poem dedicated to Demeter. Furthermore, the list of those the goddess taught the mysteries to does not include an Eleusinian named Dysaules. Nevertheless, the Phliasians showed the tomb of Dysaules in Celeae and celebrated the Mysteries every fourth year. The celebration was modelled on the Eleusinian rites, but the chief priest was not appointed for life. Instead, the people elected a new initiating priest every four years and allowed him to marry if he chose to do so.

Dysaules married Baubo and had two daughters, Protonoe and Nesa, according to a different mythological tradition. His name can be interpreted as “hard-working field labourer”. He sprung from the soil and became the demi-god of the sacred Rharian Field in Eleusis. The Rharian Field was used for the sowing of the first grain. It included a threshing floor and an altar for Triptolemus, Dysaules' son.