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Cenotaphs and Sacred Localities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2013

Extract

A noticeable feature with regard to sacred localities (sacred springs, trees, wells and the like) not only in Ancient Greece, but also in other lands, is the frequent association of the sacred spot with the supposed grave of a saint, prophet or holy man. For example, a long list of sacred localities in the Punjab was published by Miss Burne and Mr. Rose in Folklore, xxi2 and it will be seen that the feature to which I have alluded, is as prominent here as in the traditions of Ancient Greece. It has, of course, attracted the attention of the authors, who offer two slightly different explanations of the phenomenon, (1) ‘The power of the original healer has passed into his tomb instead of into his descendants, or has been communicated by him to a well instead of to a disciple.’ This explanation, it will be observed, admits the existence of the buried prophet and his holiness as the ultimate source of the power of the locality. (2) It may be doubted whether those legendary Fakîrs, who are said to have given power to the wells, are not in reality early devotees of the wells in question, whose memory lingers at the places they themselves worshipped, and beside which they were frequently buried.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1911

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References

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