HOW GEOLOGY DICTATED RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS AND BURIAL CUSTOMS OF THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN

Geology was responsible for the development of specific aspects regarding the festivals and traditions of the ancient Mediterranean. For example, soil type mandated the agricultural diversity of an area. This decided the species of livestock for which an ancient city, polis, could support as the livestock depended on the local agricultural for sustenance. The grains, plants, and livestock harvested by a polis provided the framework for sacrifices and offerings which were central components of theological festivals. Furthermore, the abundant silver mines located around the area provided ancient people with a means of food preservation increasing harvesting success. In addition, the burial customs which varied from one polis to another was a result of the structural geology of the area. Cross referencing detailed accounts of archaic traditions provided by ancient and current historians with geological surveys regarding the physiographic components of the bygone Mediterranean shows geology as the unbiased entity of major life events of the ancient world.