The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion

Name: The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion
Author: James George Frazer

By James George Frazer

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Archaeology & Anthropology Mythology, Legends & Folklore Religion/Spirituality

About This Book

A sweeping comparative study examines the origins and functions of magic, religion, and ritual through cross-cultural evidence, tracing theories about sympathetic and contagious magic and the magician's social role. It surveys practices intended to control weather and fertility, the fusion of royal and priestly offices, and the institution of temporary or sacrificial kings. The work analyzes tree veneration and the motif of a sacred branch, taboos affecting persons, objects and words, folk beliefs about souls, and rites marking death, seasonal renewal, and succession. Chapters interweave ethnographic examples, folklore, and classical sources to suggest continuities between primitive rites and historic religious institutions.

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.