medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
In a message dated 31/01/2006 23:40:40 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<<The practice known as incubation was particularly widespread in classical
Greece (especially in the cult of Aesculapius), and 'more recently' in the
Mediterranean basin (as far as I'm aware). The main aspects of incubation were:
night sleep in a holy place; visionary dreams during that sleep; and
resulting curative miracles.>>
In this part of the world (i.e. Cornwall), it is sleeping near a holy well
which is reputed to have this effect: the precise cure sought depending upon
the well. It is supposed to be a remnant of Celtic Christianity, if not
Celtic pre-Christian belief. There are holy wells elsewhere in the British Isles
(though not so many survive per acre as in Cornwall), but I do not know
whether these beliefs are remembered there.
Susan
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