Today in lecture, we discussed the motif of creation that seems to appear over and over again when considering the construction of a sacred space. For instance, Revelation 21: 1-5, the "New" Jerusalem is described as being lowered from the Heavens. Sacred space and sacred time, as defined by Eliade, refer to a location or time where something divine or supernatural occurs that is reason enough to set it apart from the mundane, or profane.
Between the sacred and profane, lies Jerusalem, an axis mundi, where one has access to both realms. Geological and historical accounts of the Hinnom Valley to the west of Jerusalem seem to support this idea, for this valley is believed to have been a garbage disposal of sorts (and also possibly the burial site of human sacrificial victims). Because of the nature of the Hinnom Valley, many hold the conviction that the valley is illustrative of the underworld, as it is called "Gehenna" in Greek (referenced in Matthew 5:22), literally meaning "Gates of Hell." The Hinnom Valley's close proximity to the Holy City therefore, supports the idea that Jerusalem is indeed a place where both the sacred and profane meet.
We wrapped up lecture with a discussion on how Biblical texts (psalms and passages) refer to Jerusalem as sacred, as legends and myths are constantly drawn to the city.
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