The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion By: Sir James G. Frazer Study Course Lecture 01.02

Book 01. Chapter 02 - Priestly Kings

Lectures by: A. W. Finnegan



This chapter, the second chapter in the first section of the book, Book 01. Chapter 02 - Priestly Kings describes the dynamic between the religious and state role and duty of Priest and King, and the historical and symbolic significance of the Priest as King, with emphasis on the destrucdtion of Natural law by religion/state and cutting off man/woman from his/her inherent spiritual nature to be subservient to and reliant on the religion/state to replace his/her spiritual identity and initiation The two questions to be answered: 1. Why had Diana’s Priest of Nemi, the King of the Wood, to slay his predecessor? 2. Why before doing so had he to pluck the branch of a certain tree which the public opinion of the ancients identified with Virgil’s Golden Bough? We will search more in-depth into the origins and functions of the Priest-Kings, or Sacral Kings and their significance in as religious rite and authority of state The 'divinity' of Priest & King - The occult declaration to the subconscious mind of initiates and the society as a whole will be discussed

Golden Bough Study Course (sequence):

Video 00: Introductory Remarks and Overview

Video 01: Book 01. Chapter 01: The King of the Wood

Video 02: Book 01. Chapter 02: Priestly Kings