words dolores o’donoghue
Explore the mystical landscapes of myth, religion and imagination with Sacred Sites, a stunning new coffee table book published by Taschen, renowned for beautifully curated and high-quality publications. Many of Taschen’s tomes are part of a series, making them highly collectable. Compiled by author, filmmaker and journalist Jessica Hundley, Sacred Sites is the fifth volume in The Library of Esoterica series. It takes us on a visual journey through holy mountains, great pyramids and golden shrines, celebrating the ways we transform the world around us through ritual, creativity and worship.
Historically, sacred sites have held profound spiritual significance, often rooted in ancient traditions, myths and religious practices. These places have long been revered as gateways to the divine, where the physical world meets the spiritual realm. Early humans, feeling a deep connection to the natural world, believed certain locations were blessed or inhabited by gods, spirits or ancestors. Over time, these sites became central to communal rituals, pilgrimages and worship, symbolising humanity’s quest for meaning, connection and transcendence.
Jessica Hundley’s narrative begins with a brief history of people and places, introducing us to ancient sacred sites. These locations offer valuable insights into the beliefs and customs of past civilisations. The ingenuity and resources required to build sites like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Stonehenge in England, and Machu Picchu in Peru highlight the importance of ceremony and spiritual expression.
Prehistoric sites featured include Stonehenge, one of the most iconic monuments of the Neolithic period. It was constructed around 2500 BCE and is believed to have held religious or ceremonial significance.
Newgrange, a passage tomb in County Meath, Ireland, was built around 3200 BCE, making it older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. The tomb’s main chamber aligns with the sunrise during the winter solstice, suggesting its significance in spiritual practices.
The next chapter delves into humanity’s enduring reverence for the Earth and nature, often attributing sacred qualities to natural entities such as trees, mountains, rivers and soil.
This is followed by an exploration of manmade sacred structures and the role architecture plays in religious practices. Although these structures may vary in design and function, they all facilitate diverse ways of paying homage to the divine. They often incorporate symbols and elements that reflect the beliefs and values of the faith they represent such as the Christian cross, the Buddhist wheel of life, and the Islamic crescent moon. Through architecture, religious practices take on a tangible form, allowing people to connect with the divine and each other in meaningful, shared experiences.
Many sacred sites are associated with the afterlife and death, serving as spaces to memorialise those who have passed. From the Taj Mahal in India to Arlington National Cemetery in the United States where over 400,000 soldiers are buried, these sites honour the deceased. Egypt’s Valley of the Kings houses the tombs of pharaohs like Tutankhamun, while Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is renowned for its architecture and notable interments, including Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and Frédéric Chopin.
The final chapter of Sacred Sites is largely devoted to the imagined landscapes of fiction and myth, woven from folktales and songs. These places deeply resonate in our collective consciousness, guiding our journeys into the unknown through the mystical visions of poets, artists, mythologists and storytellers.
The tradition of exploring places of worship and prayer, along with the expression of the spiritual dimension of human life across different cultures continues. Contemporary artists and spiritual seekers worldwide express their creativity and devotion through various mediums, including architecture, gardens, sculptures, installations and immersive works, as well as through performance, dance, prayer and communal gatherings.
Sacred sites continue to inspire awe and reverence, reminding us of our shared heritage and the universal quest for something greater than ourselves.
- ‘The Power of Place: The enduring allure of sacred sites’ is published in Anthology Volume 22. Read more features from this volume or buy it now.
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- Featured image: Yellow Pumpkin, 1994, by Yayoi Kusama, Japan. Kat Davis / Alamy Stock Photo