Logan Miller - Classification of pilgrimage (Image and Pilgrimage)

Logan Miller

Essay 14: Classification of pilgrimage (Image and Pilgrimage)

Turner and Turner write that pilgrimage can be broken down into four classifications: prototypical, archaic, medieval, and modern. These different types of pilgrimages are unique a different from each other in many ways.

Prototypical pilgrimages are established by the founder of the respective religion. These pilgrimages are typically dramatic in their use of symbolism.

Archaic pilgrimages are pilgrimages that bear “syncretism with other religions. These pilgrimages tend to be considered ambiguous.

Medieval pilgrimages are those that originated between 500-1400 AD. These pilgrimages are typically well known in literary traditions of the Christian world.

Modern Pilgrimages are those, which have developed more recently; most in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Modern, however, distinguishes post medieval.

I find this information about pilgrimages interesting and when reading on, you realize that despite these categories, pilgrimages change over time due to the society and cultures that practice them. I find this to be interesting, because I believe that pilgrimages are intended to remove one from his society and culture to revel some sort of an epiphany. It is a statement that society and culture do not hold the same importance as the religious plight of the pilgrim. The evolution to some degree of pilgrimages due to the impact of those who walk it is interesting. Humans really are a product of what they encounter and equally what they encounter is a product of themselves. The hope is that the pilgrimage acts equally if not more on the pilgrim as the pilgrim acts on the pilgrimage.