Walling in the Mysteries? Some Reflections on the Assumptions at Work in the Analysis of Mysteries and Their Spatialisation

  • Anne-Françoise Jaccottet Université de Genève
Keywords: Eleusis, form and function, initiation, mysteries, ritual vs. architecture, Samo¬thrace, Telestērion

Abstract

Can we architecturally recognise a building used for initiation rites? Can we infer from an architectural form a ritual or even initiatory function of the space thus determined? The sanctuaries of Eleusis and Samothrace provide here the framework for an investigation into the a priori assump­tions of the research on mystery rites and their impact on the identification of initiatory structures. The aim is to point out the imaginaries and interpretative blockages that certain pre-established positions induce, to the detriment of a more open and flexible vision of the mysteries and their ritual framework.

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Published
2024-07-09
How to Cite
Jaccottet, A.-F. (2024). Walling in the Mysteries? Some Reflections on the Assumptions at Work in the Analysis of Mysteries and Their Spatialisation. ARYS, (22), 137-204. https://doi.org/10.20318/arys.2024.8487
Section
Monographic