Myth as the Catalyst of a Cultural Heritage-Building Process: The Case of Goa

Goa's cultural heritage, particularly its churches and convents, reflects a dynamic process of myth-making that has sustained its identity across centuries. The study reveals how the magnetic attraction of St. Francis Xavier’s relics, capitalized on by Catholic elites, reinforced the enduring myths of 'Golden Goa' and 'Rome of the East,' resisting urban decay and political shifts from the Portuguese Estado da Índia to Indian independence in 1961. This immaterial heritage-building process culminated in the site's inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1986, underscoring the interplay between myth, religion, and cultural preservation.

WALTER ROSSA. (2022). Myth as the Catalyst of a Cultural Heritage-Building Process: The Case of Goa. Portuguese Literary and Cultural Studies, 81–105. https://doi.org/10.62791/hb8b6c77