Pilgerstätten in der syrischen Peripherie

The Pilgrimage to local sanctuaries in the Syrian periphery is by no means a relic of past epochs, which is supposedly threatened by extinction. Rather a process of revitalization can be observed and, nowadays these shrines seem to be gaining more importance despite, or perhaps even because of, globalization and westernisation. This publication essentially consists of two parts: In the first part, twenty pilgrimage sites are documented which are located primarily in the remote areas of today`s Arabic Republic of Syria. These sacred places can often be classified as `natural sanctuaries` which are always associated with mythological legends and personalities. The documentation is presented as case studies, based on the author`s extensive ethnological field research, supported by the thorough evaluation of relevant literature in Arabic and Islamic Studies. The second part focuses on the differences between sacred and profane places and the conditions that have to be fulfilled in order to define a place as `sacred`. Further, the question is pursued as to what extent and in which way the construct of a `Holy Place` influences and structures peoples` actions in their religious and everyday lives. From a social-anthropological perspective, the documented sanctuaries can be interpreted as physical centers of communication. The reversal of the characteristics of everyday life, which constitutes the construct `Holy Place`, allows not only special communication with God, but also facilitates those human interactions, which, under `normal` circumstances, would be impossible. In this way, sanctuaries can become places of rehabilitation and reconciliation as well as places where truth can be found. The present investigation not only consists of important contributions to the field of social anthropology - in view of the fact that the last documentation of such pilgrimage sites in Syria dates back to the late fifties - but also offers a new theoretical and methodological approach. For the first time, relevant indications and cultural symbols (such as topographic characteristics of sacred places, relics of sanctuaries, or ritual actions of pilgrims) are not viewed as separate from each other. Rather the emphasis of this investigation lies in their correlations to each other, which pilgrims understand as constituent for sanctity and holiness.