batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l2913-l2969
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg-l2913-l2969
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;
lines 2913-2969'
start: '2913'
end: '2969'
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: Frazer surveys beliefs and tales in which preserved bones or body parts
of eaten, hunted, sacrificed, or dismembered beings are reassembled, buried, or
otherwise kept intact so that the animal or person may return to life, sometimes
with a substitute member when a part is missing.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage states a belief that preserved animal bones can be reclothed with
flesh and the animal can come to life again.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage says hunters benefit from leaving bones intact because destroying
them would reduce the future supply of game.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Minnetaree Indians are reported to believe that slain bison bones rise again
with renewed flesh and life and become fit for slaughter the following June.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Buffalo skulls on the western prairies are described as arranged in circles
and symmetrical piles while awaiting resurrection.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: After eating a dog, the Dacotas are described as collecting, scraping, washing,
and burying the bones, partly to show no disrespect to the dog species and partly
from belief that the bones will rise and reproduce another dog.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: In Lapp animal sacrifice, bones and selected organs or parts are put aside,
laid in anatomical order in a coffin, and buried with rites after the remaining
flesh is eaten.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The Lapps are described as believing that the god receiving the sacrifice
would reclothe the bones with flesh and restore the animal to life in Jabme-Aimo,
the subterranean world of the dead.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: The Kamtchatkans are reported to believe that every creature, down to the
smallest fly, would rise from the dead and live underground.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: The passage contrasts North American Indians, who are said to expect animal
resurrection in the present world, with Lapp and Kamtchatkan expectations of an
underground or otherworldly restoration.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: The passage says the Mongolian practice of stuffing or stretching the skin
of a sacrificed animal points to belief in resurrection in the present world.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: The passage says objections to breaking eaten or sacrificed animal bones may
be based on belief in animal resurrection, fear of frightening other animals,
or fear of offending ghosts of slain animals.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:12
text: Folk-tales are described in which animals or people come to life again if
their bones are preserved, and sometimes return lame when a bone has been eaten,
broken, or lost.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:13
text: In a Magyar tale, a hero cut in pieces is revived when the serpent-king lays
the bones in order and washes them with water; a lost shoulder-blade is replaced
with one of gold and ivory.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:14
text: The passage relates Pythagoras's reported golden leg, Pelops's ivory shoulder,
and Osiris's wooden replacement member to stories of resurrection after a body
part is missing.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Minnetaree Indians
description: A group reported to believe that bison bones can rise again with renewed
flesh and life.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: bisons or buffalos
description: Game animals whose bones or skulls are described as awaiting renewed
flesh, life, and future slaughter.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Dacotas
description: A group described as collecting, washing, and burying dog bones after
eating a dog.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: dog and dog-species
description: The eaten dog and its species, toward whom the bone treatment is said
to show respect and from whose bones another dog may be reproduced.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Lapps
description: A group described as preserving and burying sacrificial animal bones
and parts in anatomical order.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: sacrificed animal or bear
description: An animal whose bones and selected parts are preserved for burial and
expected restoration.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: god receiving the Lapp sacrifice
description: The deity said to reclothe the sacrificial animal's bones with flesh
and restore the animal to life in Jabme-Aimo.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Kamtchatkans
description: A group reported to believe that creatures rise from the dead and live
underground.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: North American Indians
description: A group described as expecting animal resurrection in the present world
and as reluctant to let dogs gnaw animal bones.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Mongolian peoples
description: Peoples associated with the practice of stuffing or stretching the
skin of a sacrificed animal on a framework.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Magyar tale hero
description: A hero cut in pieces and restored to life after his bones are ordered
and washed; his lost shoulder-blade is replaced.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: serpent-king
description: The figure in the Magyar tale who lays the hero's bones in proper order,
washes them with water, and supplies a replacement shoulder-blade.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Pythagoras
description: A figure said to have exhibited a golden leg as proof of supernatural
pretensions and interpreted here through resurrection stories involving a missing
limb.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Pelops
description: A murdered figure restored to life with an ivory shoulder replacing
the shoulder eaten by Demeter.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Demeter
description: The figure said to have eaten Pelops's shoulder.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Osiris
description: A mangled figure whose scattered limbs were collected, with a missing
member replaced with wood.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Isis
description: The figure said to collect Osiris's scattered limbs and replace the
missing member with one of wood.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:18
name_or_label: fish
description: Fish are said to have eaten one member of the mangled Osiris.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: preserver of bones or remains
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: These groups are described as preserving, burying, arranging, protecting,
or maintaining animal remains.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: slain or eaten animal expected to return
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
basis: The animals are killed, eaten, or sacrificed, and their bones or parts are
associated with renewed life or reproduction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: restorer or reassembler
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:12
- fig:17
basis: These figures are described as reclothing bones with flesh, ordering bones
and washing them, or collecting limbs and replacing a missing member.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: restored being
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:11
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:16
basis: These figures or animals are described as restored to life or interpreted
in relation to a restored body with a missing or substitute part.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: consumer of missing body part
assigned_to:
- fig:15
- fig:18
basis: Demeter and fish are each named as eating a body part that later requires
replacement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: believer in resurrection of creatures
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: These groups are reported to believe in resurrection of creatures or animals,
with differing locations for that resurrection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: preserved bones
literal_form: Bones, skulls, or body remains kept intact after eating, hunting,
sacrifice, or dismemberment.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: anatomical order
literal_form: Bones and parts laid together in their proper bodily arrangement.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:11
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: coffin and burial of animal remains
literal_form: A coffin and burial rites used for preserved bones and parts of a
sacrificed animal.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: stuffed or stretched animal skin
literal_form: Skin of a sacrificed animal stuffed or stretched on a framework.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: water used in revival
literal_form: Water with which the serpent-king washes the ordered bones of the
hero.
associated_figures:
- fig:11
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: replacement body part
literal_form: A shoulder-blade of gold and ivory, a golden leg, an ivory shoulder,
or a wooden member substituted for a missing part.
associated_figures:
- fig:11
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:16
- fig:17
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: serpent-king
literal_form: A serpent-king who restores the dismembered hero in the Magyar tale.
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:8
label: subterranean world of the dead
literal_form: Jabme-Aimo, the underground world where the sacrificial animal is
restored to life.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Preserved bison bones and expected renewal
summary: The passage describes a belief that bison bones rise again with renewed
flesh and life, and notes buffalo skulls arranged in circles and piles awaiting
resurrection.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Dacota treatment of dog bones after a feast
summary: After feasting on a dog, the Dacotas collect, scrape, wash, and bury the
bones to show respect to the species and because the bones may rise and reproduce
another dog.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Lapp sacrifice and otherworld restoration
summary: The Lapps preserve bones and selected parts of a sacrificial animal, lay
them in anatomical order in a coffin, bury them, and expect a god to restore the
animal to life in Jabme-Aimo.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Locations and signs of animal resurrection belief
summary: The passage compares expectations of resurrection underground, in another
world, or in the present world, and mentions stuffed skins, avoidance of broken
bones, and preventing dogs from gnawing bones.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Magyar reassembly and revival of a dismembered hero
summary: In a Magyar tale, the serpent-king restores a cut-up hero by arranging
the bones, washing them with water, and replacing the missing shoulder-blade with
gold and ivory.
figure_refs:
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Named cases of substitute body parts after restoration
summary: The passage connects Pythagoras's golden leg, Pelops's ivory shoulder,
and Osiris's wooden replacement member with the same pattern of restoration after
a lost or eaten body part.
figure_refs:
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
- fig:18
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: resurrection from preserved bones
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
- death_rebirth
basis: Multiple examples describe animals or people returning to life when bones
are preserved, ordered, or kept intact.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is Frazer's comparative synthesis rather than direct primary
testimony for all cases.
- id: motif:2
label: respectful disposal of eaten or sacrificed animal remains
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- resurrection
basis: Dacota and Lapp examples link careful treatment, washing, burial, or arrangement
of animal remains with respect and expected renewal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives different stated reasons in different examples, so the
motif should not be reduced to a single motive.
- id: motif:3
label: anatomical reassembly before revival
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: The Lapp sacrificial remains and the Magyar hero's bones are laid out in
bodily order before restoration or expected restoration.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: One example concerns ritual treatment of an animal; the other is a folk-tale
about a human hero.
- id: motif:4
label: missing bone or member requires substitute part
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: The passage describes tales where a lost, eaten, or broken body part leads
to lameness or replacement with gold, ivory, or wood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The explanation of Pythagoras is presented by Frazer as inferential rather
than as a directly quoted ancient account.
- id: motif:5
label: animal resurrection located in another world or in the present world
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: Frazer contrasts Lapp and Kamtchatkan underground or otherworldly resurrection
with North American expectations of animal resurrection in the present world.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage groups diverse traditions under a single contrast; local meanings
may differ.
- id: motif:6
label: sacrificial skin effigy as sign of expected animal renewal
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- resurrection
basis: The passage says the habit of stuffing or stretching a sacrificed animal's
skin points to belief in resurrection in the present world.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This is explicitly an interpretation of the practice, not a quoted native
explanation.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage presents Minnetaree, Dacota, Lapp, Kamtchatkan, North American
Indian, and Mongolian examples as related cases of belief in animal renewal or
resurrection through preserved remains.
claim_level: same_motif
target: animal resurrection from preserved bones or remains across cited traditions
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The comparison is Frazer's scholarly construction and does not establish
historical contact or common inheritance.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage treats folk-tales of revived animals or people with missing bones
as traces of the same belief that preserved bones allow return to life.
claim_level: same_motif
target: folk-tale restoration from bones and missing-member variants
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage summarizes a motif family without giving full tale contexts.
- id: claim:3
claim: The Magyar hero's gold-and-ivory shoulder-blade, Pythagoras's golden leg,
Pelops's ivory shoulder, and Osiris's wooden member are presented as functionally
similar substitute parts after bodily restoration.
claim_level: same_function
target: substitute body part in resurrection or restoration narratives
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: For Pythagoras and Osiris, the passage uses cautious or inferential
language, so the comparison should not be treated as certain.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 2913-2922
quote_or_summary: A general belief is stated that preserved animal bones may be
reclothed with flesh and return to life; Minnetaree bison bones are said to rise
again, renewed and fit for slaughter the following June.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 2922-2930
quote_or_summary: Buffalo skulls are described as arranged in circles and piles
awaiting resurrection; Dacotas collect, scrape, wash, and bury dog bones after
a feast to show respect and because the bones may rise and reproduce another dog.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 2930-2942
quote_or_summary: Lapps preserve bones and selected animal parts, lay them anatomically
in a coffin, and bury them, believing the sacrificial god will restore the animal
in Jabme-Aimo; Kamtchatkans are said to believe all creatures rise and live underground.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 2942-2951
quote_or_summary: The passage contrasts present-world animal resurrection among
North American Indians with otherworldly examples, notes Mongolian stuffed or
stretched sacrificial skins, and discusses reluctance to break animal bones or
let dogs gnaw them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 2952-2958
quote_or_summary: Folk-tales are said to preserve the belief that animals or people
revive if bones are kept; in a Magyar tale, a serpent-king orders and washes a
dismembered hero's bones, revives him, and replaces a lost shoulder-blade with
gold and ivory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 2959-2964
quote_or_summary: The passage explains Pythagoras's reported golden leg as possibly
derived from a resurrection story in which a broken or mislaid leg was replaced
with gold.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 2964-2969
quote_or_summary: Pelops is described as restored to life with an ivory shoulder
replacing one eaten by Demeter; Osiris is described as having a missing member
eaten by fish and replaced by Isis with one of wood, perhaps belonging to the
same circle of beliefs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-2-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage is explicit. Motif and comparison
confidence is moderated because the passage is a comparative scholarly synthesis
and sometimes uses cautious language.
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: |-
Only supplied passage text and metadata were used. Taxonomy references were limited to the available taxonomy list.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-2-frazer-gutenberg__l2913-l2969
passage_sha256=23c782a99ab196f3461a570cc83a188f79870b180b714f9f33512c53d7bc01e2