Re: Ritual Landscapes | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Ritual Landscapes

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FourWinds Aug 1, 2003 23:57:05

Replying to morfe

I think the error here is in the question. Ritual Landscapes Constructed?

I don't think you can do that ... except maybe with the exception of Silbury, but then that's not a landscape.

If such a thing existed then it was crafted with the highlighting of key points in the existing landscape. It wasn't a blank canvas. It's like staring at a hill and realising it looks like a sleeping giant, so you erect a temple to it. Add a cairn on those two hills and they becomes a pair of breasts.

I don't think one was ever created (not by man anyway :-). It's more a case of it being *realised*.

nigelswift Aug 2, 2003 00:30:03

Replying to FourWinds

"Add a cairn on those two hills and they becomes a pair of breasts"

That prompts a question that has been puzzling me:

You and others often talk of female symbolism in the landscape. Obviously, that's a subjective judgement, but have you been prompted to think that often enough that you're pretty sure that the monument builders thought it sometimes? I mean, I could pick out such symbols, and perhaps complementary male ones in built structures, but I haven't seen enough to know whether I was simply seeing what I expected. Hills are mighty female, after all. I suppose the only way to know is to see a large number of sites, which you have. So what's your "feeling" about your feeling?

Additionally, "Add a cairn on those two hills and they becomes a pair of breasts" isn't just symbolism, it's very nearly representational as well. Have you seen many instances where you think that might have been done? And again, how would you judge your judgement on the issue (if you know what I mean)?

Thanks.

BrigantesNation Aug 2, 2003 10:37:23

Replying to FourWinds

Yes, this is how I'm coming to see it, the ritual landscape was there - recognised as having suitable qualities to perform ritual (or even just there) and ancient man therefore built the first ritual structure. As time went by, other ritual structures were built, either with or without a relationship to the first and so on, until you get a significant concentration of such creations, which we are calling here a ritual landscape. It therefore follows that perhaps some of the most ritualised or sacred of landscapes may have been left untouched, and the areas where ritual structures were created may have been on the periphery.