batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l11072-l11304
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l11072-l11304
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 11072-11304'
start: '11072'
end: '11304'
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: Index entries from Prussia through Scandinavian Christmas custom list cross-references
for ritual and mythic topics including tree worship, puberty seclusion, rain-making,
sacred animals, sacrifice, resurrection, initiatory rites, first-fruits, sacred
persons' taboos, seasonal agricultural customs, and fire festivals.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The index lists Prussian reverence for oak and high trees, along with Prussian
agricultural and seasonal rites such as spring ploughing, corn drenching, harvest
customs, winter-corn sowing, and a midsummer fire festival.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Girls at puberty are indexed as secluded and as not allowed to touch the ground
or see the sun.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Initiatory rites are indexed for Queensland, Quoja, and Rook; a separate entry
mentions simulation of death and resurrection at initiatory rites.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: obs:4
text: Offerings or presentations of first-fruits are indexed for Rajamahall and
the Samoans.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Sacred persons are indexed as having vessels not to be used by others, as
dangerous, and as not allowed to see the sun or touch the ground.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The index includes human sacrifices, a sacrificial king, the rule that royal
blood is not spilt on the ground, and sacred or sacrificial animals including
the ram.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: obs:7
text: The resurrection of animals, traces of belief in resurrection in folk-tales,
and simulated death and resurrection at initiation are indexed together.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Rain charms and rain-making are indexed, with examples assigned to multiple
cultures or regions including the Roumanians.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:9
text: The soul is indexed in connection with reflection, and a Samoyed story is
indexed under the external soul.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:10
text: Several entries concern animal avoidance or sacred animals, including a rattlesnake
not killed, sables, a turtle not eaten by the Samoans, and birds and beasts of
the wood held sacred by the Samogitians.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ancient Prussians and Prussian Slavs
description: Groups associated in the index with oak reverence, high-tree worship,
funeral custom, self-immolation of a supreme ruler, agricultural rites, and a
midsummer fire festival.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Girls at puberty
description: Girls indexed as secluded and subject to prohibitions on touching the
ground or seeing the sun.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ra
description: Named as the sun-god in an index entry.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Sacred persons
description: Persons indexed as dangerous and subject to vessel, sun, and ground
taboos.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Ram
description: The ram is indexed as sacred, as an Egyptian sacrificial animal, and
as consecrated by the Kalmucks in the form of a white ram.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Samoans
description: The index associates Samoans with gods, bleeding trees, recall of the
soul, a turtle not eaten, the butterfly, and presentation of first-fruits.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:11
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sacrificial king
description: A king indexed under the phrase 'Sacrificial king.'
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Initiatory participants
description: Participants implied by entries on initiatory rites and simulated death
and resurrection at initiatory rites.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Tree-revering and seasonal-ritual community
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Prussian entries include reverence for oak and high trees and several
agricultural or calendrical ceremonies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: Secluded pubertal initiand
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The puberty entry states that girls are secluded and restricted from touching
ground or seeing the sun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: Sun-god
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The index directly labels Ra as the sun-god.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:4
label: Taboo-bearing sacred person
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The sacred-person entries list restrictions and dangerousness attached to
sacred persons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: Sacred or sacrificial animal
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The ram is described in index entries as sacred, sacrificial, and consecrated.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: First-fruit presenter
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The Samoan entry includes presentation of first-fruits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: Royal sacrificial figure
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The index contains an entry for a sacrificial king and adjacent entries for
sacrifice and royal blood taboos.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: Initiand in simulated death and resurrection
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The index refers to simulation of death and resurrection at initiatory rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Oak and high trees
literal_form: Oak tree, high trees, sacred oak, tree worship, rowan
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:13
- id: sym:2
label: Fire festival
literal_form: Midsummer fire festival and fire festivals
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:14
- id: sym:3
label: Sun
literal_form: Sun seen by girls at puberty or sacred persons; Ra as sun-god
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:12
- id: sym:4
label: Ground
literal_form: Ground that girls at puberty and sacred persons are not allowed to
touch; ground on which royal blood is not spilt
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: Ram
literal_form: Sacred ram, Egyptian sacrificed ram, white ram consecrated by Kalmucks
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: First-fruits
literal_form: Offerings or presentation of first-fruits
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:7
label: Reflection
literal_form: Reflection associated with the soul
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:8
label: Rain water
literal_form: Rain-charm and rain-making
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:9
label: Rattlesnake
literal_form: Rattlesnake not killed
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Prussian tree and seasonal rites
summary: Index entries connect Prussia with reverence for oak and high trees and
with seasonal agricultural rites including ploughing, corn drenching, sowing,
harvest, and midsummer fire.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Puberty seclusion of girls
summary: Girls at puberty are described in index form as secluded and prevented
from touching the ground or seeing the sun.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: First-fruits offerings
summary: The index lists offerings of first-fruits in Rajamahall and presentation
of first-fruits by the Samoans.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Sacred and sacrificial animals
summary: The index includes sacred animals, sacramental killing of sacred animals,
the sacred and sacrificial ram, and animal avoidance or non-killing customs.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: scene:5
label: Initiation with simulated death and resurrection
summary: Initiatory rites are indexed in several places, and one entry specifically
notes simulated death and resurrection at such rites.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Taboos of sacred persons
summary: Sacred persons are indexed as dangerous and as subject to restrictions
concerning vessels, the sun, and the ground.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:7
label: Sacrificial kingship and blood taboo
summary: The index lists human sacrifices, a sacrificial king, and a rule concerning
royal blood not being spilled on the ground.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Revered tree or sacred tree cult
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: The passage indexes reverence for oak, worship of high trees, a sacred oak
at Romove, Roman tree worship, rowan used against witchcraft, and Samogitian tree
superstition.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is an index and does not narrate a single sacred-tree myth
or rite.
- id: motif:2
label: Puberty seclusion with sun and ground taboos
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The puberty entry directly states that girls are secluded and not allowed
to touch the ground or see the sun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The index gives cross-references and reasons elsewhere, but not the full
ritual context in this passage.
- id: motif:3
label: Seasonal agricultural rites and calendrical festivals
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: Entries list spring ploughing, sowing of winter corn, harvest customs, Eastertide
customs, Whitsuntide customs, midsummer customs, and Christmas custom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:14
- ev:15
confidence: medium
cautions: The specific sequence and meanings of the rites are not provided in this
index segment.
- id: motif:4
label: Midsummer and other fire festivals
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The passage indexes midsummer fire festivals or fire festivals in Prussia,
the Rhön mountains, Russia, Ruthenia, and Rottenburg.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:14
confidence: medium
cautions: The entries identify places and festival type but do not describe ritual
actions.
- id: motif:5
label: Sacrifice of humans, kings, or sacred animals
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The index includes human sacrifices, sacrificial king, royal blood not spilt
on the ground, Egyptian sacrifice of the ram, and sacramental killing of sacred
animals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The index juxtaposes several sacrificial topics but does not specify one
unified rite.
- id: motif:6
label: Death and resurrection in initiation and animal belief
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
- death_rebirth
- initiation
basis: Entries mention resurrection of animals, traces of belief in resurrection
in folk-tales, and simulated death and resurrection at initiatory rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not give the narrative details of the initiatory simulations.
- id: motif:7
label: First-fruits as ritual offering
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The passage indexes offerings of first-fruits in Rajamahall and presentation
of first-fruits by the Samoans.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: No recipient or full ritual procedure is described in this index segment.
- id: motif:8
label: Sacred-person taboo and dangerous holiness
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The index states that sacred persons' vessels are not to be used by others,
sacred persons are dangerous, and they are not allowed to see the sun or touch
the ground.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference exactly matches this motif; interpretation
is limited to the indexed attributes.
- id: motif:9
label: Soul located in reflection or external object
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The index includes entries for the soul in reflection and the external soul
in a Samoyed story.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage supplies only index labels, not the underlying story or doctrine.
- id: motif:10
label: Animal avoidance and sacred animal protection
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Entries list animals not killed or not eaten and animals held sacred, including
rattlesnake, sables, turtle, and birds and beasts of the wood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives no explanation for the prohibitions.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The index presents midsummer or fire-festival customs across several European
regions as comparable entries of the same broad ritual function.
claim_level: same_function
target: Midsummer fire festivals in Prussia, Rhön mountains, Russia, Ruthenia, and
Rottenburg
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:14
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The index lists locations and cross-references but does not state historical
contact, common inheritance, or identical ritual content.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage supports a cautious comparison of first-fruits rites in Rajamahall
and among the Samoans as instances of offering or presentation of first produce.
claim_level: same_function
target: Offerings of first-fruits in Rajamahall and presentation of first-fruits
by Samoans
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The entry does not describe recipients, ritual sequence, or meanings,
so comparison is limited to the indexed function.
- id: claim:3
claim: The index groups puberty seclusion and prohibitions concerning ground and
sun with similar sacred-person taboos, suggesting a comparable taboo pattern.
claim_level: same_function
target: Puberty seclusion taboos and sacred-person sun/ground taboos
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: low
limitations: The passage does not explicitly equate girls at puberty with sacred
persons; the comparison rests only on shared indexed restrictions.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11072-11082; entry: Prussia'
quote_or_summary: Prussia entries include reverence for oak, high trees worshipped,
funeral custom, self-immolation of supreme ruler, spring ploughing, corn drenching,
gardens of Adonis, harvest custom, winter-corn sowing, and midsummer fire festival.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11084-11087; entry: Puberty'
quote_or_summary: Puberty entry states that girls at puberty are not allowed to
touch the ground or see the sun, are secluded, and gives cross-reference to reasons
for seclusion.
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 11101-11105 and 11232-11233; entries: Queensland, Quoja, Rook'
quote_or_summary: Initiatory rites are indexed in Queensland and Quoja, and an initiation
festival is indexed for Rook.
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 11120-11121 and 11272-11274; entries: Rajamahall; Samoans'
quote_or_summary: Rajamahall is indexed for offerings of first-fruits; Samoans are
indexed for presentation of first-fruits.
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 11173-11178; entry: Sacred persons'
quote_or_summary: Sacred persons' vessels are not to be used by others; sacred persons
are dangerous; sacred persons are not allowed to see the sun or touch the ground.
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 11142-11145; entry: Resurrection'
quote_or_summary: Resurrection of animals, traces of belief in resurrection in folk-tales,
and simulation of death and resurrection at initiatory rites are indexed.
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 11122-11125 and 11167-11172; entries: Ram; Sacramental killing'
quote_or_summary: Ram entries include sacred ram, Egyptian sacrifice of the ram,
and consecration of the white ram by the Kalmucks; sacramental killing of sacred
animals by pastoral peoples is also indexed.
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 11159-11164 and 11182-11186; entries: Royal blood; Sacrifices; Sacrificial
king'
quote_or_summary: Entries include royal blood not spilt upon the ground, human sacrifices,
and a sacrificial king.
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 11112-11118 and 11240-11242; entries: Rain-charm; Roumanians'
quote_or_summary: Rain-charm and rain-making are indexed; Roumanians are listed
for rain-making and corn-drenching.
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: summary
locator: 'lines 11135-11136, 11190-11191, 11258-11259; entries: Reflection; Saddle
Island; Samoyed story'
quote_or_summary: The soul is indexed in the reflection; Saddle Island is linked
to reflection and the soul; a Samoyed story is indexed for the external soul.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11127, 11256-11257, 11268-11271, 11276-11277; entries: Rattlesnake;
Sables; Samoans; Samogitians'
quote_or_summary: Entries state that a rattlesnake is not killed, include superstition
about killing sables, note that a turtle is not eaten by the Samoans, and say
birds and beasts of the wood are held sacred by the Samogitians.
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: 'line 11111; entry: Ra'
quote_or_summary: Ra is indexed as the sun-god.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11151-11158, 11227-11228, 11264-11265, 11275-11276; entries: Rome/Romans/Romove/Rowan/Samogitians'
quote_or_summary: Entries include tree worship by Romans, sacred oak at Romove,
rowan effective against witchcraft, and tree superstition among the Samogitians.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11146-11149, 11240-11244, 11262-11263; entries: Rhön mountains;
Rottenburg; Russia; Ruthenia'
quote_or_summary: Fire festivals or midsummer customs are indexed in the Rhön mountains,
Rottenburg, Russia, and Ruthenia.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11235-11247 and 11303-11304; entries: Russia; Scandinavian Christmas
custom'
quote_or_summary: Russian entries include Whitsuntide, Eastertide, harvest, first
sheaf, Easter, wood-spirits, corn-spirits, beating charm, and midsummer customs;
Scandinavian Christmas custom is indexed.
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: low
notes: The source passage is an index excerpt. It reliably identifies topics, figures,
objects, and cross-referenced customs, but usually lacks narrative detail, ritual
sequence, and explicit interpretation.
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 historical-contact or common-inheritance claims are made. Comparison claims are limited to shared indexed functions within the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg__l11072-l11304
passage_sha256=1cbb00a5449410cac5c54630eb82310abe1d20974f5391382f37c4a4b6857e90