batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l10197-l10420
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l10197-l10420
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
passage_locator:
label: 'The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 2 of 2) / CONTENTS
/ NOTE. OFFERINGS OF FIRST-FRUITS. / INDEX.; lines 10197-10420'
start: '10197'
end: '10420'
translation: 'The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 2 of 2)'
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: An alphabetical index section lists cultures, ritual figures, places, and
customs treated elsewhere in the work, including consecrated or sacrificial animals,
apologies before animal killing, human sacrifices, sacred kings, temporary kings,
the King of the Wood, first-fruits offerings, tree and grove rites, harvest customs,
expulsion of sickness or devils, scapegoats, midsummer fires, seclusion customs,
and comparative notes on Linus, Lityerses, Attis, Adonis, and North European personages.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The index records Kalmuck consecration of a white ram, Lapland ceremony at
animal sacrifice, and a sacramental lamb killed by the Madi tribe of Central Africa.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Kamtchatkans are indexed as excusing themselves before killing land or
sea animals and as respecting the seal and sea lion.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The Karens are indexed with funeral customs, transference of the soul, dread
of women’s blood, beliefs concerning the head, and a rice-sowing custom.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The Khonds are indexed with human sacrifices, a rain-charm, and expulsion
of devils.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The King of the Wood is indexed as an incarnation of the tree spirit, connected
with the oak, probably formerly slain annually, and probably burned in oak-wood
fire.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Kings are indexed as gods, weather controllers, crop-failure scapegoats, divine
figures, temporary rulers, and persons killed under various conditions, including
decay, fixed terms, annual cycles, or crisis substitutions involving sons.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: First-fruits offerings are indexed for the Kingsmill Islands, the Kobi, and
the Kochs of Assam.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: 'The index includes tree-related rites and beliefs: a ceremony before felling
a tree, a sacred larch-tree, tree worship in Lithuania, sacred groves, the Karma
tree, and life plants.'
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Several entries concern seasonal or agricultural customs, including the King
of the May, harvest customs, new-corn eating, midsummer fires, driving out Death,
and funerals of personified figures such as Kupalo, Kostroma, and Lada.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Entries record expulsion of devils, diseases, sickness, small-pox, and scapegoat
customs in several places or groups.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Mount Kilimanjaro is indexed as believed to be tenanted by demons.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: The passage explicitly indexes Lityerses as compared with harvest customs
and related to Attis; Linus is indexed as identified with Adonis.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: King of the Wood
description: An indexed ritual personage described elsewhere as connected with the
tree spirit, oak, annual slaying, and burning in oak wood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Kings
description: A general indexed class of divine, natural, rain, water, fire, temporary,
guarded, veiled, confined, abdicated, or killed rulers.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Khonds
description: An indexed group associated with human sacrifices, rain-charm, and
expulsion of devils.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Kamtchatkans
description: An indexed group associated with apologies before animal killing and
respect for seal and sea lion.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Karens
description: An indexed group associated with funeral customs, soul transference,
blood taboo, head beliefs, and rice sowing.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Kingsmill Islanders, Kobi, and Kochs of Assam
description: Indexed groups associated with offerings of first-fruits.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Linus, Lityerses, Attis, and Adonis
description: Named figures or song/personage labels appearing in comparative index
entries about harvest customs, vintage lament, and identifications or relations
among figures.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: sacred ruler or ritual king
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: The entries describe kings as gods and the King of the Wood as a ritual personage
connected with tree-spirit embodiment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: tree-spirit embodiment
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The King of the Wood is indexed as an incarnation of the tree spirit and
personification of the oak.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: weather and fertility accountable ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Kings are indexed as controlling weather and being punished for failure of
crops.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: sacrificial and expulsion-rite group
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Khonds are indexed with human sacrifices and expulsion of devils.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: animal-killing ritual practitioners
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The Kamtchatkans are indexed as excusing themselves before killing animals
and respecting particular sea animals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: soul, funeral, and agricultural custom group
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Karens are indexed with funeral custom, soul transference, and rice sowing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: first-fruits offering groups
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: These groups are indexed under offerings of first-fruits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: comparative harvest and lament figures
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The entries connect Lityerses with harvest customs and Attis, and Linus with
Adonis and vintage lament.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: tree
literal_form: tree, oak, larch-tree, sacred groves, life plants
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: fire
literal_form: fire, oak-wood fire, midsummer fires
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: water
literal_form: kings of water, expulsion of diseases to sea
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: sym:4
label: mountain
literal_form: Kilimanjaro Mount
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: ram or lamb
literal_form: white ram; lamb killed sacramentally
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:6
label: first-fruits
literal_form: offerings of first-fruits
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: scapegoat
literal_form: scapegoat used in cholera; Leucadian scapegoat
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Animal consecration or sacrificial killing
summary: Index entries group rites involving a consecrated white ram, animal sacrifice,
and a sacramentally killed lamb.
figure_refs: []
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Apology before animal killing
summary: The Kamtchatkans are recorded as excusing themselves before killing land
or sea animals and respecting the seal and sea lion.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Sacred kingship and killing of kings
summary: Entries describe kings as divine or nature-associated rulers who may control
weather, be punished for crop failure, be guarded or veiled, abdicate, or be killed
under specified conditions.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: King of the Wood as oak-associated tree figure
summary: The King of the Wood is indexed as a tree-spirit embodiment and oak personification,
with probable annual slaying and burning in oak wood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: First-fruits offerings
summary: The index lists offerings of first-fruits for several groups, including
the Kingsmill Islands, Kobi, and Kochs of Assam.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Expulsion rites and scapegoats
summary: Entries record the expulsion of devils, sickness, diseases, small-pox,
and scapegoat customs in multiple named places or groups.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:10
- id: scene:7
label: Seasonal agricultural ritual cycle
summary: The passage indexes May, harvest, new-corn, midsummer fire, driving-out-Death,
and ritual funeral customs associated with seasonal figures.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Sacred kingship and ritual death of rulers
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- sacrifice
basis: The index repeatedly connects kings with divine status, control of weather,
responsibility for crops, temporary office, and being killed annually, at fixed
terms, or when showing decay.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is an index summary; it does not provide the underlying ethnographic
narratives or ritual sequence.
- id: motif:2
label: Tree spirit embodied in a ritual king
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
- sacrifice
basis: The King of the Wood is indexed as an incarnation of the tree spirit and
personification of the oak, with probable annual slaying and burning in oak wood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: Tree embodiment and oak association are explicit; the broader axis-mundi
dimension of the taxonomy is not stated in this index excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: First-fruits offering as sacred exchange
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The index lists offerings of first-fruits for multiple groups and places.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The index does not specify recipients, ritual words, or exchange logic
beyond the offering label.
- id: motif:4
label: Seasonal agricultural death or expulsion customs
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The entries include harvest customs, new-corn ceremonies, the King of the
May, midsummer fires, driving out Death, and funerals of seasonal figures such
as Kupalo, Kostroma, and Lada.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpt names customs but does not narrate their ritual performance
or explicitly describe rebirth.
- id: motif:5
label: Scapegoat and expulsion of affliction
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: Entries list scapegoat customs, expulsion of devils, expulsion of sickness,
diseases sent to sea, and driving away small-pox.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy lacks a direct scapegoat category; sacrifice is
used only where scapegoat or expulsion rites overlap with sacrificial logic.
- id: motif:6
label: Animal-killing apology and respect for prey
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The Kamtchatkans are indexed as excusing themselves before killing land or
sea animals and respecting the seal and sea lion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The index does not describe the apology’s words, addressee, or theology.
- id: motif:7
label: Human and animal sacrifice
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The index includes Khond human sacrifices, sacrifices at Lagos, sons sacrificed
in danger, a sacramental lamb, and animal sacrifice ceremonies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: Specific ritual contexts and meanings are not supplied in this index passage.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage itself states that the King of the Wood has similarity to North
European personages.
claim_level: same_function
target: North European personages compared with the King of the Wood
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The index gives only the existence of the comparison, not the detailed
grounds.
- id: claim:2
claim: The repeated index wording supports treating first-fruits offerings in the
Kingsmill Islands, among the Kobi, and among the Kochs of Assam as instances of
the same indexed pattern.
claim_level: same_motif
target: First-fruits offerings across Kingsmill Islands, Kobi, and Kochs of Assam
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The index does not show whether the rites share structure beyond the
first-fruits offering label.
- id: claim:3
claim: The passage explicitly indexes Lityerses as compared with harvest customs
and as related to Attis.
claim_level: same_function
target: Lityerses, harvest customs, and Attis
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The relation is named but not explained in this excerpt.
- id: claim:4
claim: The passage explicitly indexes Linus as identified with Adonis and also notes
a Phoenician lament at vintage time.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Linus and Adonis in vintage or lament context
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The identification is reported in the index, but details of the argument
are absent.
- id: claim:5
claim: The index groups multiple customs of expelling devils, diseases, sickness,
small-pox, and scapegoat use, supporting a cautious same-function comparison of
affliction-removal rites.
claim_level: same_function
target: Expulsion and scapegoat rites across indexed cultures and places
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The indexed rites may differ substantially in performance, theology,
and social setting.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entries for Kalmucks, Lamb, Lappland
quote_or_summary: Entries mention Kalmuck consecration of a white ram, a lamb killed
sacramentally by the Madi tribe of Central Africa, and Lapland ceremony at the
sacrifice of an animal.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entry for Kamtchatkans
quote_or_summary: Kamtchatkans are said to excuse themselves before killing land
or sea animals and to respect the seal and sea lion.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entry for Karens
quote_or_summary: Karens are indexed under funeral custom, transference of the soul,
dread of women’s blood, belief concerning the head, and custom at rice sowing.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entry for Khonds
quote_or_summary: Khonds are indexed under human sacrifices, a rain-charm, and expulsion
of devils.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entry for King of the Wood
quote_or_summary: The King of the Wood is indexed as an incarnation of the tree
spirit, similar to North European personages, a personification of the oak, probably
formerly slain annually, and probably burned in a fire of oak wood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entry for Kings
quote_or_summary: Kings are indexed as gods, controllers of weather, punished for
crop failure, divine or nature kings, kings of fire, rain, and water, guarded,
veiled, confined, abdicated, killed for decay or at fixed terms, killed annually,
temporary, and linked with sons sacrificed in great danger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entries for Kingsmill Islands, Kobi, Kochs of Assam
quote_or_summary: Offerings of first-fruits are indexed for the Kingsmill Islands,
the Kobi, and the Kochs of Assam.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entries for Katodis, Larch-tree, Lithuania, Karma tree,
Life plants
quote_or_summary: The index includes a ceremony before felling a tree, a sacred
larch-tree, tree worship and sacred groves in Lithuania, the Karma tree, life
plants, and a life bound up with a plant.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entries for King of the May, harvest customs, Kupalo,
Kostroma, Lada, midsummer fires, new corn
quote_or_summary: Entries include the King of the May, many harvest customs, eating
of new corn, midsummer fires, driving out Death, and funerals or representations
of Kupalo, Kostroma, and Lada.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entries for Kasyas, Key Islanders, Khonds, Konkan, Kumis,
Lakor, Leti, Leucadian scapegoat
quote_or_summary: Entries list expulsion of devils, sickness, diseases to sea, small-pox,
and scapegoat customs, including in Southern Konkan and the Leucadian scapegoat.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entry for Kilimanjaro Mount
quote_or_summary: Kilimanjaro Mount is indexed as believed to be tenanted by demons.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 10197-10420; entries for Linus and Lityerses
quote_or_summary: Linus is indexed as the name of a Phoenician lament at vintage
time, a song, and identified with Adonis; Lityerses is indexed as compared with
harvest customs and related to Attis.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is an index excerpt, so it provides reliable labels and cross-references
but limited ritual detail. Motif extraction is therefore based on explicit index
wording only.
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: |-
No external information was used. Taxonomy references were limited to supplied available taxonomy items and applied only where the index wording gave support.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg__l10197-l10420
passage_sha256=d5c165715a35bb1a87f24ff8bc7a53b75a8eb812335e537aa7f958dd585e4e48