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The Magic Art and the Evolution of Kings
Paperback
Comparative ReligionAnthropologyMythology & Folklore
ISBN13: 9781025820897
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 436
Weight: 1.34
Height: 0.89 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Magic Art and the Evolution of Kings is a foundational work in the fields of anthropology and comparative religion, forming a vital part of Sir James George Frazer's monumental study, The Golden Bough. In this second volume, Frazer continues his exhaustive exploration into the origins of magic, religion, and the development of political authority in early societies. The text focuses on the transition from the private practitioner of magic to the public figure of the sacred king, examining how ancient leaders were believed to possess supernatural powers over nature and the elements.
Through a vast collection of cross-cultural evidence, the work investigates the ritualistic importance of the natural world, including tree worship and the symbolic significance of the seasons. Frazer illustrates how the evolution of kingship was deeply intertwined with the community's need for spiritual mediation and the control of environmental forces. By documenting the diverse customs and myths of global cultures, this volume offers a profound look at the primitive mind and the social structures that emerged from early mystical beliefs. This scholarly masterpiece remains essential for understanding the historical intersection of folklore, mythology, and the rise of organized human governance.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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