The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 05 of 12)

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Gutenberg ID

43605

Title

The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 05 of 12)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

James George Frazer explores the deep connections between ancient Oriental religions and early Christian practices in this volume of The Golden Bough. He analyzes myths of dying-and-rising gods like Adonis, Attis, and Osiris, arguing that Christian festivals coincided with pagan celebrations to ease cultural transitions.

Summary up to 500 words

In Volume V of *The Golden Bough*, James George Frazer investigates the profound connection between ancient vegetation cults and the Christian calendar. The text explores myths surrounding deities who die in winter and are resurrected in spring, such as Adonis in Syria and Cyprus, Attis in Phrygia, and Osiris. Frazer details the rituals associated with these gods, including the burning of effigies for deities like Sandan and Sardanapalus, and the volcanic worship prevalent in Cappadocia. A significant portion of the volume addresses the striking coincidence between the death and resurrection of Attis at the vernal equinox and the Christian festivals of Easter and Good Friday. Frazer argues that early Church leaders deliberately adapted pagan festivals to accommodate new converts, suggesting that Christianity absorbed elements of older nature cults to gain popularity rather than these parallels being accidental. The volume also examines the rock-hewn monuments at Ibreez in Cappadocia, which depict a horned fertility god and his priestly worshipper, illustrating the deep reverence for natural forces like water and grain. Frazer interprets the Greek myth of Hyacinth as an aboriginal underworld deity later assimilated by Apollo, noting that the flower bearing his name heralded spring's return. He further analyzes the festival of Hyacinthia, which transitioned from mourning to joyous celebration, symbolizing resurrection. Frazer posits that the coincidence of Christian and pagan festivals marks a historical compromise where shrewd ecclesiastics modified rigid principles to align with popular superstitions. This process of accommodation allowed Christianity to conquer the world by relaxing its austere ideals and integrating them with the natural instincts and prejudices of humanity, a phenomenon Frazer compares to the eventual assimilation of Buddhism into local Oriental superstitions.

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Categories

• Religion
• Mythology