Pilgrimages
If we remove Pilgrimages from their religious purpose, we can think of them more broadly as visits to places that have a special meaning to an individual.
This meaning can be spiritual, or it can have a level of significance that approaches the spiritual for a person. For example, a person who nearly “worships” the memory of Elvis Presley might make a pilgrimage to Graceland; a person who has a special connection to their childhood home might make a pilgrimage to visit it again.
In this context, a pilgrimage is a trip with a specific destination. That destination has a sacred or near-sacred significance to the pilgrim, although it can be a non-religious place. A pilgrimage involves a long journey or search, which can only be completed through some level of effort on the part of the pilgrim.
For this discussion, I would like you to think about the pilgrimages that modern people make, aside from obvious ones like trekking along the path to Santiago de Campostella. To begin, watch and listen to the audio at this link: https://www.metmuseum.org/connections/pilgrimage#/
Then, post your initial comment which should include the following:
1. The name and location of the destination.
2. The significance of the destination to the pilgrim.
3. Is there any particular art that is associated with the modern pilgrimage you identified?
4. What type of physical reminders a pilgrim might bring back from their pilgrimage to the site you identified? (Remember that the pilgrims who made it to Santiago de Campostella bought objects with a scallop shell on them.)
5. If you lived in 11th century France, would you have made the long and arduous journey to Santiago da Compostella? Why or why not?
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