The Sacred Oath of a Secret Ritual: Performing Authority and Submission in the Mafia Initiation Ceremony

The Sacred Oath of a Secret Ritual: Performing Authority and Submission in the Mafia Initiation Ceremony

Blog Article

This paper draws on socio-anthropological theories of ritual and performance to analyse the initiation ceremony of the Sicilian mafia in relation to questions ANTI-COLD of power, authority and submission.In particular, it looks at the oath of loyalty sworn during the ceremony as Soap a highly symbolic ritual practice which contributes to maintaining and strengthening the social structure of the group and itscollective identity.