Making a Landscape Sacred: Outlying Churches and Icon Stands in Sphakia, Southwestern Crete - Tapa blanda

Nixon writes clearly and well. She has produced an innovative and vigorous book' -- Material Religion Material Religion an interesting and thoughtful survey' -- Landscape History Landscape History lively, intelligent, beautifully argued and readable' -- Anglo-Hellenic Review Anglo-Hellenic Review N[ixon] provides a vigorous and influential reading of the physical, metaphysical, and social landscape of Crete, with far-reaching applications. Her sound methodology, clear and compelling arguments, and versatility in the use and interpretation of her sources make this a first-rate book for anyone interested in how humans construct, perceive, and articulate their natural environment.' -- Bryn Mawr Classical Review Bryn Mawr Classical Review

This book examines the landscape in southwestern Crete from AD 1000-2000, using a phenomenological approach. Specifically, the positioning of outlying churches (exokklisia) and icon stands (eikonostasia) around Sphakia is looked at, in terms of spatial and social reasoning. What is certainly clear, is that people choose the location of sacred buildings particularly carefully, so the locations themselves cannot be seen as random. Routes, resources and boundaries are all factors but primarily these locations are symbolic: such monuments mark, protect and preserve the memory of significant locations in the landscape.