batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l11306-l11513
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l11306-l11513
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 11306-11513'
start: '11306'
end: '11513'
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 index segment listing topics and page references in Frazer's comparative
study, including scapegoats, sacrifice, seasonal and harvest customs, fire festivals,
soul beliefs, serpent rites, tree and vegetation spirits, sin-bearing, and comparisons
of spring and harvest customs.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The index lists scapegoats, including animal, human, dog, divine, cow, and
bull examples, and also notes a reason for beating the scapegoat.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The index lists sin-bearers, sin-eating, and an expulsion of sins to the sea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The index lists several forms of sacrifice or self-destruction, including
child sacrifice, sacrifice of a king's son, first-born sacrifice, sacrifice of
slaves, self-immolation, and the sacrifice of a chief by shamans during pestilence.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The index lists ritual treatment of royal figures, including Scythian kings
put in bonds during scarcity, Sofala kings killed, Siamese royal execution practices,
a temporary king of Siam, and state sacrifices offered by Spartan kings.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The index lists seasonal customs involving driving out or carrying out Death,
bringing back summer, Shrovetide customs, and spring ceremonies.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The index lists fire-related customs and festivals at Easter, Shrovetide,
Beltane, midsummer, spring, and in named regions including Schaumburg, Scotland,
Skye, Servia, Slavonia, Somersetshire, Spachendorf, and Spain.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The index lists harvest customs involving the last sheaf or last handful of
corn, names and ceremonies connected with the sheaf, and strangers tied up in
sheaves as representatives of the corn-spirit.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: 'The index describes soul beliefs: the soul as a miniature of the body, as
a bird, absent in sleep, carried off by ghosts, stolen by demons, recalled, located
in portrait, shadow, reflection, or blood, and externalized in folk tales and
custom.'
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The index lists serpent-related topics, including a Python clan, communion
with the snake, and a ceremony with a dough snake.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The index lists souls of trees, a vegetation spirit in human shape, and a
summer tree.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The index states that spring and harvest customs are compared.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: The index identifies Silenus and Silvanus as both wood and corn spirits.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Scapegoat
description: A being used as a scapegoat, indexed in animal, human, dog, divine,
cow, and bull forms.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Human sacrificial victims
description: Children, a king's son, first-born persons, slaves, and a chief are
indexed as sacrificial victims in different entries.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Kings and royal persons
description: Royal figures are indexed as bound in scarcity, killed, executed, temporary
kings, sacrificers, or sacrificed through a king's son.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Corn-spirit / vegetation spirit
description: The corn-spirit appears in harvest contexts, including strangers tied
in sheaves as representatives, and a vegetation spirit is indexed in human shape.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Death
description: Death is indexed as something driven out or carried out in seasonal
customs.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Summer
description: Summer is indexed as something brought back and also in connection
with a summer tree.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Snake / Python
description: A snake or Python appears in entries for a Python clan, communion with
the snake, and a dough snake ceremony.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Soul
description: The soul is indexed as vulnerable to absence, theft, detention, recall,
embodiment in images or shadows, and externalization in tales and custom.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Silenus and Silvanus
description: Both are indexed as wood and corn spirits.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Sin-bearer or scapegoat
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage indexes scapegoats along with sin-bearers, sin-eating, and expulsion
of sins.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: Sacrificial victim
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The passage indexes children, a king's son, first-born persons, slaves, a
chief, and royal victims in sacrificial or lethal ritual contexts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: Ritually vulnerable ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage indexes kings bound during scarcity, kings killed, royal executions,
temporary kingship, and royal state sacrifices.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: Corn or vegetation spirit
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:9
basis: The passage indexes the corn-spirit, vegetation spirit in human shape, and
Silenus and Silvanus as wood and corn spirits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: role:5
label: Seasonal personification
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: Death is indexed as driven or carried out, and summer is indexed as brought
back.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: Sacred or ritual animal
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The passage indexes communion with the snake, a Python clan, and a dough
snake ceremony.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: Endangered or externalized life-principle
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The passage indexes the soul as absent, stolen, detained, recalled, located
in shadow, reflection, blood, or portrait, and external in folk tales and custom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Fire
literal_form: Easter fires, midsummer fires, Beltane fires, torchlight processions,
perpetual fire, and spring fire festivals.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: Serpent
literal_form: Snake, Python, and dough snake.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: Tree
literal_form: Souls of trees and summer tree.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:4
label: Last sheaf or last corn
literal_form: The last sheaf or last handful of corn in harvest customs.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: Soul containers or soul doubles
literal_form: Portrait, shadow, reflection, blood, bird-form soul, and external
soul.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: Sea as destination of expelled sins
literal_form: Sins expelled to sea.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Scapegoat and sin-bearing entries
summary: The index groups scapegoat forms with sin-bearing, sin-eating, beating
of the scapegoat, and expulsion of sins.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Sacrifice and royal vulnerability entries
summary: The index groups references to human sacrifice, self-immolation, sacrificed
royal kin, sacrificed slaves, chiefs sacrificed in pestilence, and kings ritually
bound or killed.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Seasonal expulsion and return entries
summary: The index lists customs of driving out or carrying out Death, bringing
back summer, Shrovetide practices, spring ceremonies, and seasonal fire festivals.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: scene:4
label: Harvest and corn-spirit entries
summary: The index lists harvest customs centered on the last sheaf or corn and
identifies strangers tied in sheaves as representatives of the corn-spirit.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:12
- id: scene:5
label: Soul peril and external soul entries
summary: The index gathers beliefs about the soul's departure, theft, detention,
recall, embodiment in shadow or reflection, and external placement in tales and
custom.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Serpent rite entries
summary: The index lists a Python clan, communion with a snake, and a ceremony performed
with a dough snake.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Scapegoat and sin-transfer
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- sacred_exchange
basis: The passage indexes scapegoats in multiple forms, sin-bearers, sin-eating,
beating of the scapegoat, and expulsion of sins to the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is an index; it does not narrate the rites or explain their
mechanics in this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: Human and royal sacrifice
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The passage indexes sacrifice of children, a king's son, first-born persons,
slaves, and a chief, along with royal killing or ritual vulnerability.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The entry lists examples across cultures without describing each ritual
context.
- id: motif:3
label: Seasonal expulsion and return
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
- death_rebirth
basis: The passage indexes driving out or carrying out Death, bringing back summer,
spring ceremonies, Shrovetide customs, and fire festivals tied to seasonal times.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The death-rebirth framing is suggested by indexed seasonal expulsion and
return terms but is not elaborated in this excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: Corn-spirit embodied in harvest remains or persons
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The passage indexes the last sheaf or last handful of corn, harvest ceremonies,
and strangers tied in sheaves as representatives of the corn-spirit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt provides index labels rather than full descriptions of the
harvest rites.
- id: motif:5
label: External or vulnerable soul
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage indexes the soul as capable of absence, theft, detention, recall,
embodiment in shadow/reflection/portrait/blood, and externalization in folk tales
and custom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy family precisely matches the external-soul motif.
- id: motif:6
label: Serpent communion and ritual serpent representation
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The passage indexes communion with the snake, a Python clan, and a dough
snake ceremony.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives only index references, so the ritual function of the
snake is not described here.
- id: motif:7
label: Seasonal fire festival
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The passage indexes Easter, Shrovetide, Beltane, midsummer, spring, and other
regional fire customs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not state the intended ritual purpose of each fire custom.
- id: motif:8
label: Ensouled trees and vegetation spirits
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage indexes souls of trees, a vegetation spirit in human shape, a
summer tree, and figures identified as wood and corn spirits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy includes tree as a symbol but no exact motif family
for tree souls or vegetation spirits.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly records that spring and harvest customs are compared
in the source.
claim_level: same_function
target: Spring and harvest customs
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The index entry states that a comparison exists but does not provide
the details, criteria, or conclusions of the comparison.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 'lines 11306-11315; index entry: Scapegoat'
quote_or_summary: Scapegoat entries include animal, human, dog, divine, cow, and
bull scapegoats, classical examples, and a reason for beating the scapegoat.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Sin-bearers; Sin-eating; Sucla-Tirtha'
quote_or_summary: The index lists sin-bearers, sin-eating, and expulsion of sins
to the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Self-immolation; Semites; Senjero;
Shamans; Slaves sacrificed'
quote_or_summary: The index lists self-immolation, sacrifice of children, sacrifice
of a king's son, first-born sacrifice, shamans sacrificing their chief during
pestilence, and sacrificed slaves.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Scythian kings; Siam; Sofala;
Sparta'
quote_or_summary: The index lists Scythian kings put in bonds in scarcity, Siamese
royal execution practices and temporary kingship, Sofala kings killed, and state
sacrifices by Spartan kings.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Shrovetide customs; Silesia;
Slavonia; Spring; Summer'
quote_or_summary: The index lists driving out Death, carrying out Death, bringing
back summer, Shrovetide customs, and spring ceremonies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Schaumburg; Scotland; Servia;
Shans; Skye; Slavonia; Somersetshire; Spachendorf; Spain; Spring'
quote_or_summary: The index lists Easter fires, midsummer fires, Beltane fires,
torchlight procession, expulsion of a fire-spirit, perpetual fire, and European
spring fire festivals.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Sheaf; Shropshire; Strangers;
Spirit'
quote_or_summary: The index lists the last sheaf and related ceremonies, the 'Neck'
as the last handful of corn, strangers tied in sheaves as representatives of the
corn-spirit, and the vegetation spirit in human shape.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Shadow; Sorcerers; Soul; Souls'
quote_or_summary: The soul is indexed as a miniature of the body, a bird, absent
in sleep, carried off by ghosts, stolen by demons, recalled, detained by sorcerers,
located in portrait, shadow, reflection, or blood, transmigrating, and external
in folk tales and custom.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Senegambia; Snake; Snake tribe'
quote_or_summary: The index lists the Python clan, communion with the snake, and
a ceremony performed with a dough snake.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Sumatra; Souls; Spirit; Summer
tree'
quote_or_summary: The index lists tree-superstition, souls of trees, a vegetation
spirit in human shape, and a summer tree.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entry: Spring and harvest customs compared'
quote_or_summary: The index contains an entry stating that spring and harvest customs
are compared.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 'within lines 11306-11513; index entries: Silenus; Silvanus'
quote_or_summary: Silenus and Silvanus are each indexed as both wood and corn spirits.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The supplied text is an index excerpt rather than a narrative passage. Extraction
is limited to indexed topics and relationships explicitly named in the excerpt.
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, scenes, or comparisons beyond those supported by the supplied index entries have been added. Page references in the original index are not treated as passage evidence beyond confirming the listed topics.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg__l11306-l11513
passage_sha256=552afb5b9743a36569aa269c886d20bf541919695026fa1be04aafc0d4da4644