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Re-Enchanting the World Through Living Heritage

3rd New Eleusis Symposion | September 25-27, 2025

The UNESCO Chair on Anthropology of Traditional Music participated in the 3rd New Eleusis Symposion at the Old Oil Mill Factory in Elefsina, where Professor Emeritus Pavlos Kavouras served as an invited speaker.

Particularly, On Saturday, September 27th, Professor Emeritus Pavlos Kavouras, participated in “The Future of Eleusis” session at the Old Oil Mill Factory in Elefsina.

From Separation to Connection

Since the industrial revolution, the dominant worldview has distanced us from nature, fostering separation, competition, and exploitation. The symposion addressed this critical tipping point by calling for a fundamental shift: re-centering our values to respect all forms of life and restoring our connection to the living world.

Traditional Music as Re-Enchantment

The Chair’s mission aligns deeply with this vision. Traditional music embodies the re-enchantment the symposion champions—preserving ancestral wisdom, fostering communal bonds, and maintaining cultural identity across generations. Through melodies, rhythms, and rituals passed down through time, communities worldwide maintain their connection to the sacred and meaningful.

Re-enchanting the world isn’t utopian idealism; it’s a necessary transformation. As anthropologists of musical heritage, we recognize that traditional practices offer vital tools for building the eco-civilization envisioned at Eleusis—one where life thrives through connection, care, and shared wonder.

Rekindling the Spirit of Place

In conversation with Alexandra Mitsotaki, Co-founder and Executive President of the World Human Forum, Professor Kavouras explored how intangible cultural heritage can rekindle the spirit of places like Eleusis—sites where ancient wisdom and contemporary consciousness converge.

The session was part of a broader dialogue on the city’s future, following discussions with Christina Kefalogianni, Deputy Regional Governor of Attica, and Michail Marmarinos, Artistic Director of the Athens-Epidaurus Festival and General Artistic Director of Elefsina European Capital of Culture 2023.