Latest Mythology Forum Topics:

  • A zombie question? (20 posts)
  • Is Satanism a myth? (8 posts)
  • what castle has the whispering dungeon? (5 posts)
  • what was hitlers favourite band? (11 posts)
  • Psychic, Will I pass the test today? (4 posts)
  • If ghost haunt the places where they died, are there ghosts in underwater wrecks, walking around underwater? (7 posts)
  • Any one knows anything about Saint Onofer? most probably born in Spain.? (2 posts)
  • What mythological creature or character do you most identify with? (21 posts)
  • Why is the Devil's number 666? (7 posts)
  • What the name of the Magistrate in the American Colonies that released a woman found guilty of being a Witch? (5 posts)
  • Does have anyone have any inspirational stories they know of that involve surpassing one's limits? (4 posts)
  • looking for a fairytale website/book? (3 posts)
  • I am really into demons, vampires,etc. but I cannot find any canadian colleges that offer it? (6 posts)
  • Ghost or Spirits? (6 posts)
  • is there any ghost named scar in a legend? (3 posts)
    		•

     

    Animal Embodiments Of The Corn-Spirit

    IN SOME of the examples which I have cited to establish the meaning of the term “neck” as applied to the last sheaf, the corn-spirit appears in animal form as a gander, a goat, a hare, a cat, and a fox. This introduces us to a new aspect of the corn-spirit, which we must now examine. By doing so we shall not only have fresh examples of killing the god, but may hope also to clear up some points which remain obscure in the myths and worship of Adonis, Attis, Osiris, Dionysus, Demeter, and Virbius.

    Amongst the many animals whose forms the corn-spirit is supposed to take are the wolf, dog, hare, fox, cock, goose, quail, cat, goat, cow (ox, bull), pig, and horse. In one or other of these shapes the corn-spirit is often believed to be present in the corn, and to be caught or killed in the last sheaf. As the corn is being cut the animal flees before the reapers, and if a reaper is taken ill on the field, he is supposed to have stumbled unwittingly on the corn-spirit, who has thus punished the profane intruder. It is said “the Rye-wolf has got hold of him,” “the Harvest-goat has given him a push.” The person who cuts the last corn or binds the last sheaf gets the name of the animal, as the Rye-wolf, the Rye-sow, the Oats-goat, and so forth, and retains the name sometimes for a year. Also the animal is frequently represented by a puppet made out of the last sheaf or of wood, flowers, and so on, which is carried home amid rejoicings on the last harvest-waggon. Even where the last sheaf is not made up in animal shape, it is often called the Rye-wolf, the Hare, Goat, and so forth. Generally each kind of crop is supposed to have its special animal, which is caught in the last sheaf, and called the Rye-wolf, the Barley-wolf, the Oats-wolf, the Pea-wolf, or the Potato-wolf, according to the crop; but sometimes the figure of the animal is only made up once for all at getting in the last crop of the whole harvest. Sometimes the creature is believed to be killed by the last stroke of the sickle or scythe. But oftener it is thought to live so long as there is corn still unthreshed, and to be caught in the last sheaf threshed. Hence the man who gives the last stroke with the flail is told that he has got the Corn-sow, the Threshing-dog, or the like. When the threshing is finished, a puppet is made in the form of the animal, and this is carried by the thresher of the last sheaf to a neighbouring farm, where the threshing is still going on. This again shows that the corn-spirit is believed to live wherever the corn is still being threshed. Sometimes the thresher of the last sheaf himself represents the animal; and if the people of the next farm, who are still threshing, catch him, they treat him like the animal he represents, by shutting him up in the pig-sty, calling him with the cries commonly addressed to pigs, and so forth. These general statements will now be illustrated by examples.

    Sponsored Ads:

    Related Articles:

    The Golden Bough / On The Animal Embodiments Of The Corn-Spirit
    The Golden Bough / The External Soul In Plants
    The Golden Bough / The Corn-Spirit As A Pig (Boar Or Sow)
    The Golden Bough / Osiris, The Pig And The Bull
    Myth, Ritual, and Religion / The Mental Condition Of Savages--Confusion With Nature--Totemism
    The Golden Bough / The Double Personification Of The Corn As Mother And Daughter
    The Golden Bough / Incarnate Human Gods
    The Golden Bough / Dionysus, The Goat And The Bull
    The Golden Bough / Killing The Corn-Spirit
    Myth, Ritual, and Religion / The Mental Condition Of Savages--Confusion With Nature--Totemism
    The Golden Bough / Killing The Sacred Bear
    The Golden Bough / The Egyptian And The Aino Types Of Sacrament
    Myth, Ritual, and Religion / New System Proposed
    The Golden Bough / The Corn-Spirit As A Cock
    The Golden Bough / Reasons For The Seclusion Of Girls At Puberty

    Also In This Category:

    The Golden Bough
    - Names Of Gods Tabooed
    - The Soul As A Shadow And A Reflection
    - The Corn-Spirit As A Horse Or Mare
    - The Corn-Spirit As A Goat
    - Killing The Sacred Ram
    - Contagious Magic
    - Homeopathic Magic Of A Flesh Diet
    - Knots And Rings Tabooed
    - Diana And Virbius
    - Magic And Religion
    - Diana As A Goddess Of Fertility
    - Osiris A God Of Fertility
    - The Myth Of Balder
    - The Corn-Spirit As A Cat
    - The Lenten Fires

    Currently Online :

    0 member(s), 2 guest(s):
    , Crawler.de, Google, Slurp, Speedy Spider

    Search :

    No comments yet
    russian buried collection taliesin plant cord racing writing cut celebration crops spartans autumn dasius athletes cosmogonic beings weight short pound carrying spartan price thoughts incident early legs harp time village mythology grief erected raven muses gwenhwyvar cruelty roses i car stories field chief crowns alphabet pelican homes it wild olympics mama
    © Copyright Mythology-Art.com {Contact Us}