Journeys to sacred places or shrines undertaken as acts of religious veneration or penance have been a feature of religious observance from the earliest times. Ancient religions had holy sites, temples and groves, such as Delphi and Dodona in Greece. On the other side of the Eurasian landmass, the Buddha specifically recommended four sacred sites for his followers to visit. After Christ's crucifixion, sites connected with his birth, death and resurrection became a magnet for Christian travellers. During the medieval period Christian pilgrimage - to Jerusalem, Rome, Constantinople and Santiago de Compostela - was a sacred obligation and a trial of faith.In Islam, pilgrimage to Mecca, or hajj, is one of the Five Pillars of that faith. Philip Carr-Gomm tells the stories of 50 sacred sites across all five continents, including sites venerated by all of the world's major religions. The sites include: The Pyramids, Macchu Picchu, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Rapa Nui, The Dome of the Rock, Mount Fuji, Mecca, The Golden Temple, Stonehenge, The Ganges River, Glastonbury, Angkor Wat, Iona, Mount Kailash, Bandiagara Luang, and Prabang.
- ISBN10 1847244211
- ISBN13 9781847244215
- Publish Date 7 August 2008
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 16 February 2010
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Quercus Publishing
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 256
- Language English