The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 02 of 12)

Name: The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 02 of 12)
Author: James George Frazer

By James George Frazer

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About This Book

A comparative anthropological study that surveys rites and beliefs linking magic, religion, and social order. It analyzes sacred kingship tied to specific natural domains, the veneration of trees and groves, and seasonal vegetation rituals such as May and midsummer customs. The work describes how plant-spirits are personified in masked mummers and paired rites, and how sexual and marital practices are used as sympathetic magic to ensure fertility. Drawing on ethnographic examples across regions, it traces how ritual functions transform and persist from earlier sacrificial and priestly forms into later folk customs.

About the Author

James George Frazer

James George Frazer was a Scottish social anthropologist and folklorist, best known for his seminal work, "The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion." This extensive study explores the connections between mythology, religion, and magic across various cultures, influencing the fields of anthropology and religious studies. Frazer's scholarship delves into themes such as the belief in immortality and the worship of the dead, as seen in his works like "The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead." His contributions have left a lasting impact on the understanding of cultural practices and the evolution of human thought.