Abstract
The objective of this work is to iconologically analyze the cave paintings of the Neolithic sanctuary of Pla de Petracos (Alicante, Spain), putting them in relation to the way of life and the religious thought of the society of the time, as well as the connection of these paintings with the Mother Goddess. To do this, firstly, the characters of early Neolithic agricultural and livestock societies, and the religiosity of the Mother Goddess that she professes, are contextualized with abundant academic documentation. The natural and religious scenery of the territory where the images and material goods—cardial ceramics, musical instruments, and ritual objects—excavated in the archeological sites located in the surroundings are described below. Finally, significant examples of ancient cultures related to the sanctuary are offered.
Highlights
Based on the initial hypothesis, methodology, and objectives proposed, we have structured the article into three main parts: “The social and sacred context of the images of Pla de Petracos”, “The natural and religious scenography of the sanctuary”, and “The paintings of Pla de Petracos and the symbolism of the Neolithic Mother Goddess”
The natural and religious scenery described and interpreted allows us to consider Pla de Petracos as a ritual social territory linked to agriculture and livestock, as a sanctuary with an astronomical orientation where the Mother Goddess and her consort the Sun are worshipped
This standing posture contrasts, in our view significantly, with that shown by the figure of the V shelter shelter (Figure 20) located underneath, since the latter lifts the legs up, as if it were a woman in the (Figure 20) located underneath, since the latter lifts the legs up, as if it were a woman in the birthing position birthing position (Figure 19, 1). This interpretation is based on what has been said about the agricultural (Figure 19, 1). This interpretation is based on what has been said about the agricultural societies of societies of matriarchal imagination, the symbolism of the paintings, and the natural scenery of the Pla de Petracos and the global comprehension that we propose exists for this sanctuary
Summary
Pla de Petracos (Castell de Castells, Alicante, Spain) are linked to the religiosity of the Mother Goddess. In order to confirm this hypothesis, we firstly try to contextualize these images with an abundant academic documentation, detailing the characters of the early Neolithic society, agricultural and cattle raising, and of the religiosity of the Goddess Mother that this one professes. Numerous significant examples of ancient cultures are offered to support the interpretation of the images in Pla de Petracos. From a Hermeneutics of the Image, an iconological analysis—using Panofsky’s method—of the paintings is carried out, through which the Neolithic way of life and religious thought as well as its connection with the Mother Goddess are revealed
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