The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 07 of 12)

Name: The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 07 of 12)
Author: James George Frazer

By James George Frazer

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About This Book

The work examines the dying-and-reviving deity motif across agricultural and hunting societies, beginning with classical vine and grain cults and extending to worldwide personifications of cereals and root crops. It surveys rituals tied to planting and harvest—games, songs, the role of women, and rites in which the crop-spirit is represented, slain, or reborn—and documents human and animal embodiments of that spirit. Comparative chapters treat sacrificial practices, seasonal calendars, and beliefs in the persistence or resurrection of animals, and conclude by considering how human social relations and ancestral spirits shape religious conceptions alongside natural-resource worship.

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.