batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l10850-l11070
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l10850-l11070
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 10850-11070'
start: '10850'
end: '11070'
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 segment from Frazer's comparative study, listing
references to customs, rites, deities, festivals, sacrifices, tree beliefs, corn-spirit
embodiments, soul beliefs, scapegoat expulsions, fire festivals, and first-fruits
or new-crop ceremonies across multiple cultures and texts.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The index lists Osiris under myth, ritual, corn-spirit, tree-spirit, vegetation
god, possible former human victim, animal forms as pig and bull, death, and annual
pig sacrifice.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The index lists harvest and corn-spirit customs including the last sheaf named
as an old man or old woman, corn-spirit embodiments as ox and pig, and preservation
of a representative corn-spirit in ancient Peru.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The index lists several sacrifices or mock sacrifices, including King Olaf
of Sweden, human sacrifice at Dionysian rites in Orchomenus, Pawnee human sacrifices
at sowing, mock human sacrifices in Phrygia, and an Athenian ox sacrifice.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The index lists beliefs and customs involving trees, including reluctance
to fell living trees, souls of trees, tree-felling customs, sacred trees, and
a child's life bound up with a tree.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The index lists new-crop or first-fruits-related ceremonies, including eating
new yams at Onitsha, Pongol festival, and digging new potatoes in Sutherlandshire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The index lists expulsions of devils or evil spirits and human scapegoats,
including examples from Old Calabar, Onitsha, Peru, the Pomos of California, and
Point Barrow Eskimo.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The index lists fire festivals and burnings, including Oldenburg, Osterode
Easter fires, Poitou midsummer fire festival, and burning a poplar on St. Peter's
Day.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The index lists beliefs about the soul or life being connected with external
things such as reflection, hair, portrait, and a tree.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The index lists sacred rulers or human divine figures, including permanent
incarnation, human gods in the Pacific, Parthian monarchs worshipped as deities,
priestly kings, and a high priest held responsible for general welfare.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The index explicitly states that rites of Osiris are similar to those of Dionysus
and Adonis.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Osiris
description: Listed as a mythic and ritual figure, corn-spirit, tree-spirit, vegetation
god, former human-victim representative, pig, bull, and subject of death and annual
pig sacrifice entries.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Dionysus
description: Listed in connection with rites, human sacrifice at Orchomenus and
Potniae, pine-tree sacredness, and rites similar to those of Osiris.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Adonis
description: Listed as a figure whose rites are similar to those of Osiris and as
associated with pig entries alongside Attis.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: King Olaf of Sweden
description: Listed as sacrificed.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Demeter and Proserpine
description: Listed together in relation to pigs.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Pan
description: Listed as represented and called the Lord of the Wood.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: vegetation or corn-spirit figure
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The index identifies Osiris as a corn-spirit, tree-spirit, and god of vegetation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: dying or sacrificial divine figure
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The index lists the death of Osiris, annual pig sacrifice to Osiris, and
the claim that Osiris was once represented by a human victim.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: ritual comparator to Osiris
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The index says Osiris's rites are similar to those of Dionysus and Adonis.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: sacrificed king
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The index entry says King Olaf of Sweden was sacrificed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: pig-associated goddess figure
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The index lists Demeter and Proserpine in connection with the pig.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: woodland divine figure
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The index calls Pan the Lord of the Wood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: tree
literal_form: Living trees, tree souls, sacred pine, pear-tree protector, palm-tree,
and a child's life bound up with a tree.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:12
- id: sym:2
label: fire
literal_form: Fire festivals, Easter fires, midsummer fire festival, and burning
of a poplar.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: pig
literal_form: Pig as corn-spirit, sacred pig, Osiris as pig, annual pig sacrifice
to Osiris, and Demeter and Proserpine as pigs.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:11
- id: sym:4
label: ox or bull
literal_form: Athenian sacrificial ox, ox as corn-spirit, and Osiris as bull.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: last sheaf
literal_form: The final sheaf of harvest named as old man or old woman.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: new yams and new potatoes
literal_form: New yams eaten ceremonially and new potatoes dug in custom.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: human scapegoat
literal_form: Human scapegoats listed for Onitsha.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: external soul objects
literal_form: Reflection, hair clippings, portraits, and trees treated as linked
to life or soul.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes: []
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: sacrifice of humans, kings, or animals
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The index groups references to sacrificed King Olaf, human sacrifices at
Dionysian rites and Pawnee sowing, mock human sacrifices, an Athenian ox sacrifice,
and pig sacrifice to Osiris.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is an index and does not describe ritual sequences or meanings
in full.
- id: motif:2
label: dying vegetation god or returning cult figure
taxonomy_refs:
- dying_and_returning
- death_rebirth
- seasonal_cycle
basis: Osiris is indexed under death, ritual, corn-spirit, tree-spirit, vegetation
god, and rites similar to Dionysus and Adonis.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The index gives headings and references, not the underlying myth narrative;
'returning' is inferred from Frazer's comparative categories rather than stated
in this excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: harvest corn-spirit embodied in person, animal, or sheaf
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: Entries list the last sheaf as old man or old woman, corn-spirit as ox and
pig, Osiris as corn-spirit, and ancient Peruvian preservation of a representative
corn-spirit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: Specific local rites are only named, not described.
- id: motif:4
label: first-fruits or new-crop ceremony
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The index lists ceremonies of eating new yams, Pongol festival, and digging
new potatoes, and the passage locator places the segment in proximity to a note
on offerings of first-fruits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The supplied text excerpt itself is an index segment; details of offerings
are not included here.
- id: motif:5
label: tree as sacred being or life-container
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: Entries list souls of trees, reluctance to fell living trees, customs at
tree-felling, sacred pine, Osiris as tree-spirit, Pan as Lord of the Wood, and
a child's life bound up with a tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:1
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy has 'sacred_tree_axis'; this passage supports sacred/life-bearing
tree motifs but does not explicitly present an axis mundi.
- id: motif:6
label: expulsion of evil through devils or scapegoats
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The index lists expulsions of devils in Old Calabar, Peru, and among the
Pomos, hunting an evil spirit at Point Barrow, and human scapegoats at Onitsha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpt names the practices but does not give procedural detail; taxonomy
assignment to sacrifice is partial because scapegoat transfer may or may not involve
killing in each case.
- id: motif:7
label: seasonal fire festival
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The index lists fire festivals in Oldenburg and Poitou, Easter fires at Osterode,
and burning a poplar on St. Peter's Day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explain the ritual purpose of the fires.
- id: motif:8
label: external soul or life bound to external object
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Entries mention soul recall, reflection superstition, hair practices, life
in portraits, soul in the portrait, and a child's life bound up with a tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No provided taxonomy reference directly matches this motif family.
- id: motif:9
label: divine or priestly kingship
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Entries include permanent incarnation, human gods, monarchs worshipped as
deities, priestly kings, and a high priest responsible for general welfare.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The index does not present legitimating myths, only comparative headings
and page references.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares the rites of Osiris with those of Dionysus
and Adonis.
claim_level: same_function
target: Rites of Dionysus and Adonis
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The index states similarity but does not specify the dimensions of
similarity in this excerpt.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 10887-10909
quote_or_summary: Osiris is indexed under myth, ritual, dead-body representation,
corn-spirit, tree-spirit, vegetation god, rites similar to Dionysus and Adonis,
possible human-victim representation, mysteries, pig form, death, annual pig sacrifice,
and bull form.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized rather than extensively quoted.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 10854-10858, 10979-10983, 10958-10961
quote_or_summary: Entries include old man and old woman as names for the last sheaf;
pig and ox as embodiments of the corn-spirit; and preservation of a representative
corn-spirit by ancient Peruvians.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 10852, 10878, 10942, 10993-10996, 10970-10972
quote_or_summary: Entries list King Olaf sacrificed; human sacrifice at Dionysian
rites in Orchomenus; Pawnee human sacrifices at sowing; mock human sacrifices
in Phrygia; and an Athenian ox sacrifice.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 10850-10851, 10938-10940, 10926-10928, 10962, 10915, 10973, 10923-10924
quote_or_summary: Entries mention Ojebways seldom felling living trees, tree souls
in the Philippine Islands, Pelew tree-felling customs, pear-tree protector of
cattle, pine-tree sacred to Dionysus, palm-tree and Dyaks, and a child's life
bound up with a tree.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 10868-10870, 10980, 10986-10989
quote_or_summary: Entries include Onitsha ceremony of eating new yams, Pongol festival,
and a custom at digging new potatoes in Sutherlandshire.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 10861, 10868-10870, 10959-10961, 10978, 10974-10975
quote_or_summary: Entries list revellings at expulsion of devils in Old Calabar,
human scapegoats in Onitsha, expulsion of devils in Peru, expulsions by Pomos
of California, and hunting an evil spirit by Eskimo of Point Barrow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 10863-10866, 10912, 10976, 10991
quote_or_summary: Entries list a fire festival in Oldenburg, Easter fires in Osterode,
a midsummer fire festival in Poitou, and burning a poplar on St. Peter's Day.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 10863-10865, 10880-10881, 10943, 10964-10965, 10938-10940
quote_or_summary: Entries mention superstition regarding reflection, clippings from
hair, recall of the soul, portraits and life in portraits, and a child's life
bound up with a tree.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 10936, 10945, 10953, 10990, 10941
quote_or_summary: Entries include human gods in the Pacific, permanent incarnation,
Parthian monarchs worshipped as deities, priestly kings, and a Pepper Coast high
priest held responsible for general welfare.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: lines 10899-10900
quote_or_summary: '"rites of, similar to those of Dionysus and Adonis"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 10979-10983
quote_or_summary: Entries list pig as corn-spirit and sacred pig; Osiris as pig;
Demeter and Proserpine as pigs; and Attis and Adonis as pigs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 10930-10932
quote_or_summary: Pan is indexed under representation and as the Lord of the Wood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The excerpt is an index rather than a narrative passage. Extraction is reliable
for named motifs and cross-references, but ritual details and interpretations
require checking the referenced pages.
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 figures, objects, or comparisons beyond those supported by the supplied index entries were added. Taxonomy references were limited to the supplied available taxonomy list.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg__l10850-l11070
passage_sha256=df5a9305a32ff03e5b02e59292d2c8b1342fbab076515ac84f529ea928e7ddf6