Sir James George Frazer

The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, by Sir James George Frazer, is a monumental work of comparative anthropology. This is Volume 11 of the classic study. Frazer explores the connections between ancient myths, rituals, and religious practices across cultures, seeking to uncover the origins of human belief systems. Beginning with the legend of the priest-king of Nemi, Frazer delves into a vast array of topics, including totemism, taboo, sympathetic magic, and the worship of fertility deities. "The Golden Bough" is a cornerstone of anthropological thought, influencing generations of scholars and continuing to fascinate readers with its sweeping scope and profound insights into the human condition. This volume, like the others in the series, offers a wealth of information and remains essential reading for anyone interested in the history of religion, folklore, and the development of human culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

A certain sacred tree was forbidden to the touch, save only for runaway slaves: if the slave could break off a branch — The Golden Bough — he could challenge the tree's attendant priest to mortal combat. If victorious, the slave would replace the priest as King of the Woods — until his lethal defeat by another bearer of The Golden Bough. Sir James George Frazer, an expert in myth and religion, was so intrigued by this tale from classical mythology that he spent more than a quarter-century investigating its genesis. His 1890 study of the cults, rites, and myths of antiquity, The Golden Bough, offers a monumental exploration of these customs and their parallels with early Christianity. A pioneer of social anthropology, Frazer's definitions of such terms as "magic," "religion," and "science" proved highly useful to his successors in the field, and his explications of the ancient legends profoundly influenced generations of prominent psychologists, writers, and poets. This abridgment of his multivolume magnum opus omits footnotes and occasionally condenses text; nevertheless, as the author himself observed, all of the original work's main principles remain intact, along with ample illustrative examples.

This book, "Totemism", by Sir James George Frazer, is a replication of a book originally published before 1887. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible. This book was created using print-on-demand technology. Thank you for supporting classic literature.