Sacred Sites. The Camino

[jayree]

This season (in the USA) the Smithsonian channel will feature a documentary on The Camino (season 2, episode 3) that will air in a few weeks, August 27. Details are at
https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/sacred-sites/the-camino/1003827/3462207.

From their web site ...
"For more than a thousand years, Christian pilgrims have traveled across Europe to walk a sacred path in Northern Spain known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. They travel to pray at the tomb of St. James, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. But now, scholars are exploring the possibility that the Camino may have been a sacred path long before the Christian Age, and new science is questioning whether or not the physical remnants at the tomb are in fact those of James."

 

[lissie45]

I really wish we could get the Smithsonian documentaries in my country. I don't however think there is any debate at all that the pilgrimage routes were based on much earlier routes. In part the caminio france follows the Roman road from Galticia - but I suspect even that followed earlier routes. And yes Christiian sies were built on top of earlier pagan sites.

 

[nycwalking]

Thanks for post.

I'll try to catch it.

 

[KinkyOne]

...I don't however think there is any debate at all that the pilgrimage routes were based on much earlier routes. In part the caminio france follows the Roman road from Galticia - but I suspect even that followed earlier routes. And yes Christiian sies were built on top of earlier pagan sites.

Oh but there are debates
Ask me and that oldPaganus @Tincatinker , hehehe.

And Camino Frances doesn't follow the route FROM Galticia (sic!). Because pilgrims were going the opposite direction, they were going TO Galicia. Or even further to (to be exact) Fisterra/Finnisterre/Finnis Terrae = End of the World. Old Pagan Sun worship place.

But I guess some Spanish pilgrims did a pilgrimage to Rome or Jerusalem eventually, so your statement isn't entirely incorrect

Everything else I ditto!!!

 

[TerryB]

This season (in the USA) the Smithsonian channel will feature a documentary on The Camino (season 2, episode 3) that will air in a few weeks, August 27. Details are at
https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/sacred-sites/the-camino/1003827/3462207.

From their web site ...
"For more than a thousand years, Christian pilgrims have traveled across Europe to walk a sacred path in Northern Spain known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. They travel to pray at the tomb of St. James, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. But now, scholars are exploring the possibility that the Camino may have been a sacred path long before the Christian Age, and new science is questioning whether or not the physical remnants at the tomb are in fact those of James."

This thread (among others)
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/looking-for-pre-christian-camino-books.19765/
is specifically asking for the kind of information the Smithsonian may have come up with! Any further info would be appreciated if there is anyone able to watch the programmes and pass it on.
Henry Chadwick the Oxbridge historian, writing back in the 1980's, hinted that the tomb at Compostella may be that of the "heretical bishop of Avila" Priscillan. Any real facts would be good.

Blessings
Tio Tel

 

[KJFSophie]

This season (in the USA) the Smithsonian channel will feature a documentary on The Camino (season 2, episode 3) that will air in a few weeks, August 27. Details are at
https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/sacred-sites/the-camino/1003827/3462207.

From their web site ...
"For more than a thousand years, Christian pilgrims have traveled across Europe to walk a sacred path in Northern Spain known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. They travel to pray at the tomb of St. James, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. But now, scholars are exploring the possibility that the Camino may have been a sacred path long before the Christian Age, and new science is questioning whether or not the physical remnants at the tomb are in fact those of James."

I do not get the Smithsonian Channel on my television as it would be a premium channel requiring subscription/payment by my cable television provider. I noticed, however, by clicking on your link that full episodes are available on their Smithsonian website. I clicked on a few and they seem to work! I hope this is accurate info to share and that I will be able to view The Camino on 8/27...it's on my calendar Thank you for the post @jayree