Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

double personification of one natural object

double_personification_of_one_natural_object

A motif of the Duality and Cosmic Opposition family, within the sub-family Counterpart figures, shadows, and divine personifications. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


comparative

  • The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2) MACAULAY. / CHAPTER II. THE PERILS OF THE SOUL. / HEINE. / CHAPTER III. KILLING THE GOD.; lines 7898-7979 confidence: medium

    The passage describes anthropomorphism detaching indwelling spirits from natural objects, leaving a 'spiritual vacuum' filled by a newly imagined spirit, so that one object has two personifications.

    The passage explains how the same natural object may be represented by an old spirit elevated to deity status and a new spirit created to occupy the object.

    read in the book