Sacral Direction of Circular Movement in Archaic Cultures

Abstract. The article considers such an important phenomenon for sacred geography as the direction of movement in various circular processions, which was an important element of the cult in ancient cultures of the world and in modern religious rites. The movement “according to the sun” (‘posolon’ in Old Russian sources) was considered in most cultures as a favorable, bringing happiness and prosperity, expelling evil forces, and the movement “against the sun” (‘protivosolon’) was used either for witchcraft purposes, or when contacting the world of the dead. This phenomenon is analyzed on the material of Middle Eastern and Ancient cults, as well as Christian theology and cult practice, which have grown from ancient procession rites. Particular attention is paid to the difference in the direction of movement in Orthodoxy, where processions against the sun are practiced, and Catholicism, where all circular processions are carried out on the sun. An attempt is made to explain these discrepancies by the features of the Late Ancient practice of processing.

Keywords: circular processions, antiquity, the Middle East, the cult direction of movement in processions, processions in Christian rituals, Catholicism, Orthodoxy.