Barefoot on the Mountains - the first thing that came to my mind was „Barfuß durch die Hölle“ [Barefoot through Hell], as that is the German title of a Japanese film adaptation of a novel called „Ningen no jōken“ (The Human Condition) [1]. However, I also came across Romano Guardini [2] on the topic, as I read the following passage in „Von heiligen Zeichen“ [Of Sacred Symbols] [3]: „[And steps lead up to the altar. Those who ascend are told, as God once said to Moses on Mount Horeb: „Take off your shoes, for this is holy ground.“)“ This reminded me of a trip through Argentina that also took me to Salta. There, I visited the MAAM - Archaeological Museum, which displays, among other things, three 500-year-old child mummies found on the Llullaillaco Volcano in 1999. The Llullaillaco, located on the border between Argentina and Chile, is 6,739 meters high [4]. The structures and tombs on its summit are considered the highest archaeological site in the world. Unfortunately, photography of the mummies was not allowed, and I only managed to take a photo of the museum in the evening. The mummies were of three children, two girls aged 13 and 4-5 years, and a boy aged 4-5 years (another source states their ages as 6, 7, and 15 years); the boy was on display.
The cold and dryness of the mountain peak contributed to the exceptionally well-preserved state of the mummified remains. They were found barefoot, but it is uncertain whether they climbed the volcano themselves or were carried. No shoes or foot coverings were found with the mummies. It is likely that the children were given a diet of high-quality food before their deaths, as well as coca (hair analysis and coca leaves in their mouths) to prepare them for the sacrifice. Chicha, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented corn, was also found, which may have had a ritual significance. It is believed that the children were calmed or put into a trance-like state using various substances. The children were buried alive on the summit of Llullaillaco. Studies have shown that they show no signs of injuries or physical trauma indicating a violent death [5]. This not only sounds cruel, it is cruel, but such rituals were performed in many parts of the world. The administered drugs, the lack of oxygen due to the altitude, and the cold allow for the consolation of their passing away in unconsciousness.
Although „Ningen no jōken“ by Gomikawa Jumpei, the Bible passage quoted by Romano Guardini, and the Llullaillaco child mummies are temporally and thematically far apart, and the connection by the term „barefoot“ may be called gossamer at best, this word „barefoot“ also brings a sense of reconciliation to me, as a song says: „ Ich mööch zo Fooß no Kölle jonn [I want to go to Cologne on foot]“ [6].
Links and Annotations:
[1] "Barfuß durch die Hölle (人間の條件, Ningen no jōken, literally "The Conditions of Being Human" (conditio humana)) is a Japanese epic film trilogy that was produced from 1959 to 1961. The films are based on a novel by Gomikawa Jumpei (五味川 純平, 1916–1995). Another Japanese television adaptation consisting of 7 parts, with the same story, was broadcasted in 1967 on ZDF." I saw this on German television (2nd channel) at the end of the 1960s. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barfu%C3%9F_durch_die_H%C3%B6lle
[2] Romano Guardini (17 February 1885 – 1 October 1968) was an Italian, naturalized German Catholic priest, philosopher, and theologian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romano_Guardini
[3] Romano Guardini: Von heiligen Zeichen (1922–1925) [Of Sacred Symbols]. Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz undated around 1950, 102nd-111th edition, p. 22. Original text: „Und Stufen tragen zum Altar empor. Wer da hinaufschreitet, dem sagen sie, wie einst Gott zu Moses auf dem Berge Horeb: „Zieh deine Schuhe aus, denn hier ist ist heiliger Boden.““
[4] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llullaillaco and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llullaillaco
[5] Andrew S. Wilson, Emma L. Brown, Timothy Taylor: Archaeological, radiological, and biological evidence offer insight into Inca child sacrifice. PNAS 110 (33) 13322-13327. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1305117110 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llullaillaco
[6] Unfortunately, only in German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimweh_nach_K%C3%B6ln I was born in Cologne.
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