Note 281 — Chapter III · HARVEST FESTIVALS. The Thargelia, Kallynteria, Plynteria.

My account of the Bouphonia is taken from Dr Frazer’s summary, which is exactly based on the complex double account given by Porphyry from Theophrastos (Porphyr. de Abst. II. 29 seq.) and Aelian (V.H. VIII. 3). With Dr Frazer’s exhaustive commentary (Golden Bough, 2nd ed. vol. II. p. 295) I am in substantial agreement, save that I do not see in the murdered ox the representative of the Corn Spirit. The Bouphonia as ox-murder was first correctly explained by Prof. Robertson Smith (Religion of the Semites, p. 286 ff.). I have discussed it previously in Mythology and Monuments of Ancient Athens, p. 424 ff.: see also Dr Paul Stengel, Rhein. Mus. 1897, p. 187. With Dr von Prott’s view (Rhein. Mus. 1897, p. 187) that the sense of guilt in the sacrifice arises from the fact that the ox was the surrogate of a human victim I wholly disagree.