The Golden Bough - Full Chapter 1 Flashcards

Flashcards covering chapter 1 of 'The Golden Bough' by James Frazer.

What is 'The Golden Bough' and who wrote it?

A comparative study of mythology and religion by Sir James George Frazer, first published in 1890.

What myth does the title 'The Golden Bough' refer to?

It refers to the myth of Aeneas, who plucks a golden bough before descending to the underworld, as recounted by Virgil in the Aeneid.

What was the unique rule of succession at Diana's sanctuary at Nemi?

The priest, called the 'King of the Wood,' held office by slaying his predecessor in combat.

Who was Virbius and what was his role at Nemi?

Virbius was believed to be the resurrected Hippolytus, brought back to life by Aesculapius. He became Diana's male consort and was associated with the grove at Nemi.

How did Frazer connect Diana with fertility and childbirth?

Diana was worshipped as a goddess of forests and fertility, aiding women in childbirth.

How did Christianity adapt Diana's festival at Nemi?

The Church converted Diana's festival on August 13 into the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on August 15.

What other deities were worshipped at Nemi along with Diana?

Egeria, a water nymph believed to aid childbirth and be the consort of King Numa, and Virbius, Diana's male consort, were both part of the Nemi sanctuary's divine trio.

What argument does Frazer make about explaining the Nemi priesthood?

He proposes a comparative approach, examining similar customs in other cultures to deduce the origin and logic behind the killing of the priest-king.

Why does Frazer believe the ritual at Nemi represents ancient practices?

Because it was barbaric and out of place in Roman civilization, suggesting it was a survival from earlier, pre-Roman religious customs centered on fertility and sacrifice.

What symbolic items were found at the sanctuary that support Frazer's theories?

Votive offerings including torches, statuettes of Diana, bronze tridents, images of animals, and sacred coins, all indicate a rich ritual life centered on fertility and nature.

How did Frazer describe the natural setting of the lake of Nemi?

Frazer evokes Nemi as a secluded woodland lake, 'Diana's Mirror,' tranquil and lush, yet tinged with melancholy due to the ancient ritual murders associated with its sacred grove.

What is the connection between Nemi's landscape and its religious ritual, according to Frazer?

Frazer argues that the beauty and isolation of Nemi's landscape enhanced its mystical character, linking the natural setting to the gruesome priestly succession rite as a sacred drama.

What archaeological remains support the sanctuary's wealth and popularity?

Votive offerings, coins, friezes, bronze tridents, animal figurines, and Egyptian shrines within the sanctuary suggest long-term, international reverence for Diana at Nemi.

What is Frazer's interpretation of the 'King of the Wood'?

He views the priest not just as a ritual murderer but as a sacrificial king whose life and death were tied to the fertility of the land and the vitality of the goddess Diana.

How does Frazer relate the Golden Bough to Aeneas in the Aeneid?

He suggests the ritual plucking of the bough is mirrored in the mythic tale where Aeneas must break a golden branch to access the underworld-thus myth echoes archaic ritual.

What was the role of fire in Diana's cult at Nemi?

Fire was central, with perpetual flames likely tended by virgins, symbolizing continuity, fertility, and protection.

How does Frazer use comparative mythology to explain the priesthood of Nemi?

He surveys similar sacrificial customs worldwide to propose that such institutions reflect a shared prehistoric belief in divine kingship and regenerative sacrifice.

What criticisms have been leveled against Frazer's method in The Golden Bough?

Critics argue that Frazer overgeneralizes, applies comparative data too loosely, and retrofits ritual explanations to myths with tenuous links.

Why does Frazer believe Orestes and Hippolytus were linked to the Nemi myths?

Orestes' association with the Tauric Diana's blood sacrifice and Hippolytus' mythic resurrection by a goddess paralleled and explained the succession and rebirth themes of the Nemi priesthood.

What function did Virbius serve in the religious imagination of Nemi?

Virbius symbolized the renewal of life after death, possibly embodying vegetation cycles and reinforcing Diana's role as a nature goddess with a dying and rising consort.

How was Diana's worship connected to fertility rituals?

Offerings of animal effigies, votive limbs, and symbolic fruit highlight her role in fertility and healing; Frazer links this to broader Mediterranean goddess traditions like Artemis and Anahita.

What role did the August 13 festival play in the Diana cult?

It marked a key fertility rite, coinciding with ripening fruits and wine, later syncretized with the Virgin Mary's Assumption to retain continuity with pre-Christian traditions.

How did Frazer view the priest of Nemi in psychological terms?

He considered the priest as a man haunted by the inevitability of death, living in isolation and paranoia, symbolizing the mortal cost of divine kingship.

How does Frazer interpret the mythic shift from human sacrifice to symbolic ritual?

He suggests a historical evolution: societies shifted from literal human sacrifice to symbolic substitutes like animal sacrifice, myths, or ritual theater to retain religious structure with less violence.