batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l6725-l6799
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l6725-l6799
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
passage_locator:
label: MACAULAY. / CHAPTER II. THE PERILS OF THE SOUL. / HEINE. / CHAPTER III. KILLING
THE GOD.; lines 6725-6799
start: '6725'
end: '6799'
translation: 'The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)'
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Frazer discusses Osiris as a tree-spirit and vegetation figure, describing
rituals and representations in which his image, body, coffin, grave, or mummy
is associated with trees, plants, corn, annual rites, and prohibitions on harming
fruit-trees or wells. The passage then discusses Isis as difficult to define but
strongly associated with grain, green crops, wheat, barley, harvest ritual, and
Greek identification with Demeter.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Osiris is described as both a corn-spirit and a tree-spirit, with the tree-spirit
character presented as probably earlier.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A described ceremony involved cutting down a pine-tree, hollowing its centre,
making an image of Osiris from the removed wood, and placing or burying that image
in the hollow of the tree.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The image of Osiris made in the tree ceremony was kept for a year and then
burned; the passage states that the same was done with an image of Attis attached
to a pine-tree.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The passage connects the tree ceremony with the mythic discovery of Osiris's
body enclosed in an erica tree and with the erection of the Tatu pillar at the
close of the annual festival of Osiris.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Several trees are associated with Osiris in the passage, including pine or
conifer, cedar, sycamore, tamarisk, acacia, and erica.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: At Denderah the coffer containing Osiris's body is represented as enclosed
within a coniferous tree.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: Inscriptions are said to describe Osiris as residing in sycamore and tamarisk
trees and as 'the one in the tree' and 'the solitary one in the acacia.'
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: A tamarisk is represented overshadowing the coffer of Osiris, and at Philae
a tamarisk is depicted with two men pouring water on it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Osiris is represented in the same Philae chamber as a corpse with ears of
corn sprouting from him, and on other monuments as a mummy covered with a tree
or plants.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Osiris's worshippers are said to have been forbidden to injure fruit-trees
and to stop up wells of water.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: Isis is described as many-named, and the passage states that her original
meaning is difficult to determine.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: The passage reports that wheat and barley were attributed to Isis, that stalks
of these grains were carried in procession at her festivals, and that Egyptian
reapers lamented and called upon Isis after cutting the first stalks at harvest-time.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Isis is given epithets connected with green crops, earth greenness, bread,
corn-fields, fruits of the earth, ears of corn, wheat-fields, and fruitful furrows.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: The Greeks are said to have identified Isis with Demeter in her character
as a corn-goddess.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Osiris
description: Egyptian deity described here as a corn-spirit, tree-spirit, vegetation
god, body or image enclosed in trees, corpse with corn sprouting, and mummy covered
with tree or plants.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Attis
description: Deity mentioned for comparison; his image is said to have been attached
to a pine-tree and treated similarly to the Osiris image.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Isis
description: Goddess described as many-named, difficult to define in origin, sister
and wife of Osiris, and associated with corn, wheat, barley, bread, green crops,
and harvest rites.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Nut
description: Mother of Osiris, represented in a sycamore.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Egyptian reapers and worshippers
description: Human participants who carry grain stalks in processions, lament and
call upon Isis at harvest, and are bound by prohibitions regarding fruit-trees
and wells.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Two men watering the tamarisk
description: Two men depicted in a Philae sculpture pouring water on a tamarisk
associated with the grave of Osiris.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: tree-spirit and vegetation deity
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Osiris is explicitly described as a tree-spirit, corn-spirit, and god of
vegetation, and is represented in trees, plants, and sprouting corn imagery.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: ritual comparison figure in pine-tree rites
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Attis is mentioned as having an image attached to a pine-tree and treated
like the Osiris image.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: corn-goddess and grain giver
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Isis is credited with wheat and barley, associated with grain processions
and harvest lament, and given epithets of green crop, corn-field, bread, fruits,
and wheat-field.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: mother represented in a tree
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Nut is called Osiris's mother and is frequently represented in a sycamore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: ritual participants and lamenters
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Reapers and festival participants carry grain stalks, lament to Isis at harvest,
and observe restrictions on fruit-trees and wells.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: water-pouring attendants in sculpture
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: A Philae sculpture depicts two men pouring water on a tamarisk associated
with Osiris's grave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sacred tree containing or sheltering Osiris
literal_form: Pine, erica, conifer, cedar, sycamore, tamarisk, acacia, and other
trees linked with Osiris's image, body, coffer, residence, grave, or mummy.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: Tatu pillar
literal_form: Pillar erected at the close of the annual festival of Osiris and compared
with the tree that formed a pillar in the king's house in the Osiris myth.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: coffer or enclosed body of Osiris
literal_form: Coffer containing Osiris's body represented as enclosed in a tree
or overshadowed by a tamarisk.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: corn sprouting from corpse
literal_form: Osiris represented as a corpse with ears of corn sprouting from him.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: burned yearly image
literal_form: The image of Osiris kept for a year and then burned; compared with
the image of Attis.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:6
label: water for vegetation and irrigation
literal_form: Wells of water that may not be stopped up and water poured on a tamarisk
in sculpture.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: grain and green corn-field
literal_form: Wheat, barley, grain stalks, green crop, bread, corn-field, ears of
corn, wheat-field, and fruitful furrow associated with Isis.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Pine-tree image ceremony for Osiris
summary: A pine-tree is cut down and hollowed; an image of Osiris is made from the
removed wood, placed in the hollow, kept for a year, and then burned.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Tree-enclosed and tree-sheltered Osiris
summary: Osiris's body, coffer, grave, residence, and mummy are associated with
several trees, including erica, conifer, sycamore, tamarisk, and acacia; inscriptions
call him present in trees.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Vegetation and water restrictions for worshippers
summary: Osiris's worshippers are forbidden to injure fruit-trees or stop up wells
of water, matching his described vegetation character.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Isis and grain rites
summary: Isis is associated with wheat and barley, grain processions, harvest lament
by reapers, epithets of green crop and bread, and Greek identification with Demeter.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: deity enclosed in or residing in a tree
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: Osiris's image is buried in a hollowed pine; his body and coffer are represented
as enclosed in or sheltered by trees; inscriptions call him present in trees.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the material through Frazer's comparative interpretation;
the taxonomy label captures the sacred-tree aspect but not necessarily an explicit
cosmic axis.
- id: motif:2
label: vegetation deity marked by annual effigy treatment and plant growth from
corpse
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
- dying_and_returning
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The Osiris image is kept for a year and burned; Osiris is shown as a corpse
with ears of corn sprouting from him; the rites are annual and tied to vegetation
imagery.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not narrate a full death-and-return sequence here; it
provides ritual and iconographic evidence interpreted as vegetation symbolism.
- id: motif:3
label: grain-giving goddess and personified corn-field
taxonomy_refs:
- culture_hero
- mother_goddess
- seasonal_cycle
basis: Isis is credited with wheat and barley, receives grain processions and harvest
laments, and is described with epithets such as green crop, mistress of bread,
corn-field, mother of ears of corn, and queen of the wheat-field.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes agricultural and maternal grain epithets, but also
states that Isis's original meaning is uncertain.
- id: motif:4
label: ritual care and protection of vegetation and water sources
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: Osiris's worshippers are forbidden to injure fruit-trees and stop up wells,
and a tamarisk associated with Osiris is shown being watered.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: This is more a ritual-prohibition pattern than a full narrative motif.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares the Osiris pine-tree image ceremony with
Attis rites in which an image was attached to a pine-tree and treated similarly.
claim_level: same_function
target: Attis pine-tree image rites
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The comparison is reported by Frazer and depends on his selection of
ritual parallels; the passage does not provide independent primary-text detail
for Attis beyond the comparison.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage cautiously places the Osiris and Attis tree ceremonies among
customs resembling the bringing in of the May-pole.
claim_level: same_function
target: May-pole custom
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: low
limitations: The passage uses tentative language, and the May-pole comparison is
broad rather than supported by detailed shared ritual sequence in this excerpt.
- id: claim:3
claim: The passage states that Greeks identified Isis with Demeter in Isis's character
as a corn-goddess.
claim_level: same_function
target: Greek Demeter
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The claim concerns Greek interpretive identification and agricultural
function; it does not establish identity of origin.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 6725-6736
quote_or_summary: Osiris is presented as corn-spirit and tree-spirit; a pine is
cut, hollowed, used to make an Osiris image, the image is placed in the tree hollow,
kept for a year, and burned like the Attis image attached to a pine-tree.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 6736-6747
quote_or_summary: The tree-cutting ceremony is linked to the mythic body of Osiris
enclosed in the erica tree, the Tatu pillar at the annual festival, comparison
with May-pole customs, Denderah's conifer enclosing Osiris's coffer, pine-cone
offerings, and cedar sprung from Osiris.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 6747-6756
quote_or_summary: Sycamore and tamarisk are called trees of Osiris; inscriptions
say he resides in them; Nut is represented in a sycamore; a tamarisk overshadows
Osiris's coffer in a sepulchre.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 6756-6765
quote_or_summary: At Philae a tamarisk is depicted with two men pouring water on
it near material about Osiris's grave; Osiris appears as a corpse with ears of
corn sprouting, is called 'the one in the tree' and 'the solitary one in the acacia,'
and appears as a mummy covered with tree or plants.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; includes short public-domain phrases.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 6765-6768
quote_or_summary: Osiris's worshippers are forbidden to injure fruit-trees and to
stop up wells of water important for irrigation.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 6769-6778
quote_or_summary: The passage says Isis's original meaning is hard to determine;
she is called many-named; a Dawn identification is noted as unsupported; the author
turns to possible grounds for viewing her as a corn goddess.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 6778-6785
quote_or_summary: Wheat and barley are attributed to Isis; stalks are carried in
procession at her festivals; after first cutting at harvest, Egyptian reapers
lay down the stalks, beat their breasts, lament, and call upon Isis.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 6785-6799
quote_or_summary: Isis is called creatress of green crop, green like earth, mistress
of bread, personified corn-field, Sochit/Sochet meaning corn-field; Greeks identify
her with Demeter; Greek verses call her giver of earth's fruits, mother of ears
of corn, and queen of the wheat-field.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is a secondary comparative discussion with explicit ritual, iconographic,
and interpretive claims. Literal extraction is strong; motif assignments require
caution because several are Frazer's comparative interpretations rather than primary
narrative episodes.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. Taxonomy references are limited to supplied available motif families and symbols.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg__l6725-l6799
passage_sha256=6066e6a2d0c67e4ee5f72defead01f6ea5b27bdbb568ce8cf2f0a8d56cd6f535