batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l14432-l14522
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l14432-l14522
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
passage_locator:
label: CONTENTS / NOTE. OFFERINGS OF FIRST-FRUITS. / INDEX. / FOOTNOTES; lines 14432-14522
start: '14432'
end: '14522'
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: The passage is a set of comparative footnotes. It states a general rule
that tabooed persons and things may need isolation from earth and heaven, then
lists examples involving mourners, fasters, pilgrims, purified killers, warriors,
sacred objects, infants, hunters, standing corn, sacred food, and sacred-well
water vessels. It also includes bibliographic notes on Balder, German mythology,
fire-customs, and a methodological note arguing that myth reflects custom rather
than custom reflecting myth.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage states that anything permeated by the mysterious virtue of taboo
may need to be isolated from earth and heaven.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Aino mourners wear peculiar caps in mourning so that the sun may not shine
on their heads.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: During a three-day fast, Indians of Costa Rica avoid salt, speak little, light
no fires, stay indoors, and cover themselves from sunlight if they go out.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Some Swedish Yule pilgrims prepare by staying in a dark cellar or hiding in
a hayloft in silence and fasting, and the passage says a man in this probation
ought not to see fire.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: A Pima Indian undergoing purification for killing an Apache may not see a
blazing fire for sixteen days.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Warriors on the war-path are described as taboo and may not sit on the bare
ground during the expedition.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The holy ark of North American Indians is described as sacred and dangerous
to touch, and it is carried without being placed on the ground.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The sacred clam shell of the Elk clan among the Omahas is kept in a sacred
bag that is never allowed to touch the ground.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Newly born infants in Loango are not allowed to touch the earth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: In Laos, the chief elephant hunter may not touch the earth with his foot,
so others spread leaves for him to step on when he dismounts.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: In parts of Aberdeenshire, the last bit of standing corn is not allowed to
touch the ground and is placed on the lap of the gueedman as it is cut.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The passage says sacred food, in certain circumstances, may not touch the
ground.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: In Scotland, when water was carried from sacred wells to sick people, the
water-vessel might not touch the ground.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: A methodological note says the myth of the marriage of Mars and Nerio has
counterparts in peasant marriage customs and argues that the myth reflects the
custom.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Aino mourners
description: Mourners who wear caps to prevent sunlight from shining on their heads.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Indians of Costa Rica during solemn fast
description: People fasting for three days with restrictions on salt, speech, fire,
indoor seclusion, and exposure to sunlight.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Swedish Yule pilgrims or probationers
description: People preparing for Yule-night pilgrimage by darkness, seclusion,
silence, fasting, and fire-avoidance.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Pima Indian undergoing purification
description: A person undergoing a sixteen-day purification after killing an Apache,
with a prohibition on seeing blazing fire.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Warriors on the war-path
description: Warriors described as strictly taboo and prohibited from sitting on
bare ground during an expedition.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Holy ark of North American Indians
description: A sacred and dangerous object that only the war chief and attendant
will touch and that is carried without being placed on the ground.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sacred clam shell of the Omaha Elk clan
description: A sacred clam shell kept in a sacred bag that is never allowed to touch
the ground.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Newly born infants in Loango
description: Infants described as strongly taboo and not allowed to touch the earth.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Chief elephant hunter in Laos
description: A chief hunter under hunting taboos who may not touch the earth with
his foot.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Last standing corn in parts of Aberdeenshire
description: The last bit of standing corn, described as very sacred and prevented
from touching the ground when cut.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Sacred food
description: Food that, in certain circumstances, may not touch the ground.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Water-vessel from sacred wells in Scotland
description: A vessel used to carry water from sacred wells to sick people and not
allowed to touch the ground.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Mars and Nerio
description: Divine figures mentioned in a note about a mythic marriage compared
with peasant marriage customs.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: tabooed person or thing
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: The passage repeatedly applies taboo status to mourners, fasters, pilgrims,
purified killers, warriors, sacred objects, infants, hunters, corn, and food,
linking this status to avoidance rules.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: person in ritual probation, purification, or restricted preparation
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:9
basis: These figures are described as fasting, preparing for pilgrimage, undergoing
purification, or observing hunting taboos.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: sacred object protected from ground contact
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
basis: The ark, clam shell, standing corn, sacred food, and sacred-well water vessel
are each described as not allowed to touch the ground.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: mythic marriage figures in methodological comparison
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The passage cites the marriage of Mars and Nerio in a note comparing myth
and custom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: taboo virtue
literal_form: mysterious virtue of taboo
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: sun or light of heaven
literal_form: sunlight, sun's rays, or light of heaven
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: fire avoided during restriction
literal_form: fire or blazing fire
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: earth or bare ground
literal_form: earth, bare ground, or ground contact
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: holy ark
literal_form: holy ark carried against the enemy
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- ark_vessel
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: sacred clam shell and bag
literal_form: sacred clam shell kept in a sacred bag
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: leaf carpet
literal_form: carpet of leaves spread for the hunter's feet
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: last standing corn
literal_form: last bit of standing corn placed on the lap of the gueedman
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: sacred well water
literal_form: water carried from sacred wells to sick people
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: General rule of taboo isolation
summary: The passage presents a general rule that tabooed persons and things may
require separation from earth and heaven.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Avoidance of sun, darkness, and fire during ritual restriction
summary: Mourners, fasters, Yule pilgrims, and a purified Pima killer observe restrictions
involving sunlight, darkness, seclusion, fasting, and fire-avoidance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Avoidance of ground contact
summary: Warriors, a holy ark, a sacred clam shell, infants, a chief hunter, standing
corn, sacred food, and a sacred-well water vessel are associated with prohibitions
against contact with earth or bare ground.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Methodological comparison of myth and custom
summary: The passage notes a scholarly argument about the marriage of Mars and Nerio
and asserts that myth should be understood as reflecting custom.
figure_refs:
- fig:13
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Tabooed persons or things isolated from earth and heaven
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage explicitly frames many examples as instances where tabooed persons
or sacred things are kept from sunlight, fire, earth, or ground contact.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is comparative scholarship rather than a single mythic narrative;
the motif is extracted as a ritual pattern.
- id: motif:2
label: Ritual avoidance of fire during fasting, probation, or purification
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Costa Rican fasters light no fires, Swedish Yule probationers ought not to
see fire, and a Pima person in purification may not see blazing fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The examples differ in purpose and cultural context; the shared element
is limited to fire-avoidance under ritual restriction.
- id: motif:3
label: Sacred or dangerous object protected from ground contact
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The holy ark, sacred clam shell, standing corn, sacred food, and sacred-well
water vessel are each described as not touching the ground.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage supplies brief examples and citations but not full ritual
narratives.
- id: motif:4
label: Mythic marriage compared with marriage custom
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: The note mentions the myth of the marriage of Mars and Nerio and says its
essential features have counterparts in contemporary peasant marriage customs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: low
cautions: No details of the marriage myth or customs are provided in the excerpt;
the taxonomy reference is based only on the phrase 'marriage of Mars and Nerio.'
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The passage groups diverse cultural practices under the same functional
pattern: taboo status entails avoidance of contact with earth, heaven, sunlight,
fire, or ground.'
claim_level: same_function
target: cross-cultural taboo isolation practices cited in the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The claim is the author's comparative framing; the excerpt gives brief
cited examples rather than full ethnographic contexts.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage reports that the mythic marriage of Mars and Nerio has counterparts
in peasant marriage customs, while arguing that myth reflects custom rather than
custom reflecting myth.
claim_level: same_function
target: marriage of Mars and Nerio and peasant marriage customs
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The excerpt does not describe the specific features shared by the myth
and the customs, so the comparison cannot be evaluated in detail here.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 14432-14441
quote_or_summary: The passage states that tabooed persons and things may need isolation
from earth and heaven, and gives Aino mourners wearing caps so sunlight does not
shine on their heads as an example.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 14441-14449
quote_or_summary: During a solemn three-day fast, Indians of Costa Rica avoid salt,
speak little, light no fires, remain indoors, and cover themselves from sunlight
if outside.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 14449-14463
quote_or_summary: For Swedish Yule-night pilgrimage preparation, some people seclude
themselves in darkness or a hayloft, remain silent and fasting, and during probation
a man ought not to see fire.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 14463-14470
quote_or_summary: A Pima Indian in purification after killing an Apache may not
see blazing fire for sixteen days; warriors on the war-path may not sit on bare
ground.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 14470-14479
quote_or_summary: The holy ark of North American Indians is considered sacred and
dangerous to touch; when carried against an enemy it is not placed on the ground
but rested on stones or logs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 14479-14486
quote_or_summary: The Omaha Elk clan's sacred clam shell is kept in a sacred bag
never allowed to touch the ground; newly born infants in Loango are strongly taboo
and not allowed to touch the earth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 14486-14497
quote_or_summary: In Laos the chief elephant hunter may not touch the earth with
his foot and steps on leaves; in parts of Aberdeenshire the last standing corn
is not allowed to touch the ground and is placed on the gueedman's lap.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 14497-14505
quote_or_summary: The passage says sacred food may in certain circumstances not
touch the ground, and that in Scotland a vessel carrying water from sacred wells
to sick people might not touch the ground.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 14510-14519
quote_or_summary: A note discusses Usener's interpretation of the marriage of Mars
and Nerio, says its essential features have counterparts in peasant marriage customs,
and argues that myth reflects custom.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
- id: ev:10
type: citation
locator: lines 14506-14509, 14520-14522
quote_or_summary: The passage gives citations for the Balder story, German mythology,
Mannhardt's survey of fire-customs, and related sources, without narrating those
materials in detail.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from provided passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The extraction is based on explicit examples in a comparative scholarly footnote.
Motif confidence is strongest for taboo isolation and ground/fire avoidance, weaker
for the Mars and Nerio comparison because the details are not included.
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 available refs and only applied where directly supported by wording in the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg__l14432-l14522
passage_sha256=4173ab8948c699d1443b6143e4cf22098a47890c726bafbee05db1901e3aadc7