Religion from below: interpreting Eleusinian mysteries' networks and its material culture through a lived ancient religion approach

• Grant number: 19/21476-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 02, 2020
• End date: October 01, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Archeology - Historical Archaeology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Cristina Nicolau Kormikiari
• Grantee: Felipe Perissato
• Supervisor: Jorg Rupke
• Host Institution: Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universität Erfurt, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/09614-5 - The Mysteries and the Ancient Mediterranean: space, the Eleusinian cult and social organization in Attica (VI-IV B.C.), BP.DR

Abstract

This project, as part of a doctoral program research (Fapesp process: 2018/09614-5), proposes a study about the social organization of the sanctuary of Eleusis intrinsically related to its spatial transformation during the period between the 6th to the 4th BC, to be accomplished in the Max-Weber-Kolleg für Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Studien (Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies - MWK) of the University of Erfurt in Germany. The main objective of this specific project is to calibrate the empirical data set already prepared by our research in Brazil through the lens of Lived Ancient Religion, an theoretical approach proposed by specialists at MWK which considers social interaction and its daily material expressions as the centre of what constitutes religion.Therefore, an investigation concerning the material culture from the spatial interventions of the Eleusinian Mysteries' sanctuary in the context of its social networks can gain a new perspective by the Lived Ancient Religion approach, proposing a model of interpretation based on social interactions rather than a self-organized model inspired by Structuralism. Moreover, the experience in this prestigious interdisciplinary centre as well as the access to the most updated and reviewed bibliography and updated data will bring a whole enrichment to our research. (AU)