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Paper short abstract

Focusing on cave springs, this paper considers modern water rituals related to the Virgin Mary and ancient nymphs. During the Virgin’s festivals Athenians come to her chapel to fetch healing water. Through a comparison I argue for a continual association of water sources with the sacred in Greece.

Paper long abstract

Focusing on springs within caves, this paper considers contemporary Greek water rituals on which the author has conducted field work since the early 1990’s and their relation to ancient pre-Christian traditions and sites. Formerly springs represented water nymphs, and today springs are dedicated to the Panagia (“the All-Holy One” from Pan: all and Agia: holy) who is the Virgin Mary in her identity as Zōodochos Pēgē (that is, the Life-giving Spring). The water is thought to be particularly healing and purifying during festivals dedicated to the Panagia, such as the contemporary celebration of the “Life-giving Spring” on the first Friday after Easter Sunday. During this celebration Athenians come to the Panagia’s chapel inside an ancient circular spring house that was hewn in the rock on the southern slope of the Akropolis to fetch “life-giving water.” The sacred spring is situated inside a cave over which a church was constructed. Comparing the modern practices with ancient evidence, this paper argues for a continual association of water sources with the sacred in Greek narratives and rituals.