02254cam a22003373u 4500 12261 UtSlPG 20260610133307.0 m cr n 260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 BL Frazer, James George, 1854-1941 Balder the Beautiful, Volume I. : A Study in Magic and Religion: the Golden Bough, Part VII., The Fire-Festivals of Europe and the Doctrine of the External Soul Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2004 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2004-05-01 Produced by Million Book Project, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team "Balder the Beautiful, Volume I" by James George Frazer is a scholarly study on mythology and anthropology written in the early 20th century. The work examines the myth of Balder, the Norse god, and its associations with fire-festivals and the concept of the external soul in various cultures. Frazer provides an extensive inquiry into ancient rituals, drawing parallels between different mythological traditions and their symbolic meanings. The opening of the volume serves as a preface to the broader inquiry that follows. Frazer presents a foundational question regarding the priest of Aricia and his connection to the Golden Bough, linking it to the Norse god Balder, who famously meets his demise by mistletoe. He elaborates on the significance of sacred kingship and taboo, detailing various cultural practices, such as restrictions placed on divine beings and the symbolic importance of fire in rituals aimed at purification or renewal. The text sets the stage for a detailed exploration of ancient customs and beliefs that reflect humanity's evolving thought processes. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Religion Magic Superstition Mythology https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12261 53679 53679