Comparison of Sacred Spaces

Although they were built for different purposes, out of different materials, in different countries, and by different peoples, both the Togu na in Dogon, Mali (see bottom) and the synagogue at Dura-Europos (see top) serve as sacred spaces with surprising similarities. The Togu na, also referred to as the “Men’s House of Words,” serves as the meeting place for the men of the Dogon society to make decisions concerning the welfare its citizens, and is considered the most important part of the community. Dogon houses like Togu na are built over long spans of time, and, consequently, walls of the house are formed by a combination of old and new wooden posts adorned with artwork. The newer posts are more detailed, brighter, and boast some writing, but all of the posts show narrative scenes of subjects ranging from legendary female ancestors depicted in stylized forms to horsemen, hunters, or women preparing food. Similarly, the synagogue at Dura-Europos served as a sacred space in its community and exhibits walls adorned with narrative art. The murals that cover the walls depict Old and New Testament content and narrative scenes that are devoid of action but that tell stories through stylizedgestures like those found on the wooden posts of the Togu na.