Paper long abstract:

The construction of sacred, labeling some objects or spaces as sacred is highly depended on the particular context. The contextual meanings are causing the transformation of space (landscape) into place (Setha Low). On the other hand the places (sacred sites) are providing the meanings. The sacred sites - meaningful landscapes are materially displaying the social perceptions of the society. The tradition of their construction had diverse ideological foundation in accordance of time and region. The instrumental and functional aspects are also differing. But it is usual to use the symbols to order the space in each context, with its own meanings. The symbolic elements within the cultural and at the same time geographical space support the inner group relations. Another important aspect is the connection of the sacred sites to the cultural memories. The sacred sites as the figures of memories (Yan Asmann) are becoming the part of cultural memory and are associated with the sense of identity and belonging. On the example of Georgian cities Tbilisi and Batumi I'll discuss the social meanings of the symbolical construction and reconstruction of the landscapes. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and Batumi is the center of Ajara region, both cities are heterogeneous in various terms. The specific contexts formed the diverse societies with multiethnic and multi-religious composition. The main question will be: how do societies within the certain tradition establish and maintain the sacred meanings they generated and connected to places, or how they epitomized and made sacred the spaces by means of mythic-ritual system.