Influența miturilor ibero-lusitane asupra operei lui Eliade

Abstract

Mircea Eliade integrated myths into his theories on the sacred and the profane, while the Ibero-Lusitanian culture played a significant role in shaping how standardized societies understood life, history, the irreversible passage of time, and spiritual renewal. Sebastianism—the belief that King Sebastian I, will return to save the nation—embodies a messianic myth, part of the eternal return, cyclically revived to give meaning to history. Spanish mythology influenced Eliade’s thinking through the concept of the Reconquista, where the sanctification of the past serves to justify
collective action. The notion of duende refers to a unique form of inspiration, where the soul seeks a connection with the sacred that lies beyond the everyday. It reflects the idea of hierophany through a ritual or initiatory event, with art acting as a gateway to a mythical dimension. There are clear parallels between Romanian, Iberian, and Spanish mythology, particularly in the way they sacralize the figure of the ruler as a restorer of divine order. National heroes are seen not merely as political leaders, but as figures tied to a higher destiny