The Sacred Tree

INDEX

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All chapters and sections (15)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Acacia, the, 11, 39, 40, 45

Accadians, the, 2, 4, 6, 111, 133

Acis, metamorphosis of, 81

Adonis, 11, 75, 81, 159

Aesculapius, laurel sacred to, 37

Alexander the Great, and the flower-maidens, 60;

and the Persian tree-oracles, 99

Ama-ravati, Buddhist sculptures at, 14

Ambrosia, 126

America, tree-worship in, 16, 17

Amrita, 125

Aphrodite, 30, 32, 46, 81, 88;

apples sacred to, 37;

myrtle sacred to, 37

Apollo, 47, 76, 98, 99;

and Daphne, 77;

laurel sacred to, 36, 47, 50, 77

Apples, sacred to Aphrodite, 37;

of Hesperides, 119

Arabia, the Jinni of, 24, 52, 54, 94;

tree-oracles in, 99, 102;

tree-worship in, 45

Argo, oracular beam of the, 98

Armenia, tree-oracles in, 99;

use of branches in, 49

Artemis, 49, 76;

a vegetation deity, 29, 88;

sacred tree of, 45, 49

Ashêra, the, 8, 88, 96

Assyria, tree-worship in, 5, 6, 88

Astarte, 8, 30, 87;

the cypress sacred to, 40

Athena, 152;

the olive sacred to, 38

Athens, festivals at, 48, 151

Atlantis, the lost, 139

Atlas, Mount, 110, 119, 135, 136

Attis, a tree-god, 11, 75, 80, 81, 154, 159

Auxerre, sacred tree of, 20

Avalon, the isle of, 140

Babylonia, tree-worship in, 6;

mountain worship in, 112;

world-tree of, 111

Banian, the, 42, 64, 76

Basil, Holy, of India, 43

Baucis and Philemon, metamorphosis of, 79

Bavaria, Whitsuntide custom in, 159

Beech, the sacred, 46

Bharhut, Buddhist sculptures at, 15, 40, 42

Bo-tree, the, 40, 116

Bodhi-trees of the Buddhas, 40

Borneo, tree-worship in, 16

Bötticher, general conclusion of, regarding tree-worship, 21

Brahma, 14, 43, 115

Branches forced into flower at Christmas, 170;

religious use of, 13, 36, 37, 38, 47, 48, 91

Brittany, use of laurel branch in, 91

Buddhas, the Bodhi-trees of the, 40

Buddhism, tree-worship and, 14, 40, 110, 116, 142

Burma, tree worship in, 16;

tree-spirits of, 65

Canaan, tree-worship in, 3, 8, 88;

tree-oracles in, 95

Canute forbids tree-worship, 20

Carinthia, Green George of, 157

Cedar, the sacred, 7, 39, 40, 99, 95

Centaurs, the, 55, 56

Ceres, sacred grove of, 63

Chaldaea, cosmogony of, 113;

demons of, 53;

divination in, 105;

illustrious mounds of, 112;

oracles of, 95, 99;

tree-worship in, 4, 6;

world-tree of, 111

176

Charlemagne destroys the Irmensûl, 120

China, divination in, 105;

legends of, 83;

paradise legends of, 133;

tree-worship in, 15;

world-tree of, 118

Christmas observances, 162 et seq.

Christmas-tree, introduction into England of, 165;

origin in Germany of, 165

Churches, decoration of, at Christmas, 164

Circassia, pear-tree worshipped in, 153

Clymene, the daughters of, 78

Clytia, metamorphosis of, 80

Columbus and the earthly paradise, 141

Cronos, 163;

a vegetation deity, 29

Cybele, 12, 30, 75, 81

Cyclops, the, 55, 56

Cypress, the sacred, 5, 13, 17, 39, 40, 51, 89, 131

Damaras, creation legend of the, 74

Daphne, 94;

metamorphosis of, 77

Daphnephoria, the, 47

Delphi, sacred laurel of, 36, 47, 50, 77, 98;

oracle of, 36, 50, 77, 94, 98, 102

Didû, the, emblem of Osiris, 34, 117

Dionysus, fruit-tree dressed as, 31, 33;

sacred tree of, 27;

a tree deity, 11, 12, 31, 32, 39, 48, 49, 57, 126, 159

Divination in Germany, 102;

by leaves, 107;

by roots, 106;

in Sarmatia, 102;

in Scythia, 102;

in Sweden, 105

Divining rod, the, 103 et seq.

Dodona, oracular oak of, 28, 36, 93, 96, 98, 102

Druids, the, 20, 35, 103, 105, 161, 164

Dryads, the, 55, 58, 63

Dusares and the vine, 40

Ea, 7, 95, 111;

sacred cedar of, 40, 131

Eddas, the, account of man’s origin in, 73;

description of Yggdrasil in, 112

Egypt, sacred sycamores of, 9, 25, 27, 44, 45;

tree-demons of, 55;

tree-worship in, 9, 10, 25, 45;

world-tree of, 110, 117

Eiresione, the, 48, 151, 173;

addressed as a person, 153

Elves, 24, 52, 63, 65

England, Christmas-tree in, 165;

May celebrations in, 144 et seq.;

tree-worship in, 20

Esdras, paradise of, 131

Esthonia, tree-worship in, 19, 44;

world-tree of, 122

Fairies, the, 65

Fauns, the, 55, 58

Faunus, grove oracles of, 100

Fertility, the tree as genius of, 87, 153

Ficus ruminalis, the, 76, 86

Fig-tree, the, associated with the silvani, 58;

carved as Pan, 33;

spirit of, 58

Finland, tree-spirits of, 70;

tree-worship in, 19;

world-tree of, 120

Flower-maidens, the, 60

France, divination in, 105;

harvest custom in, 150;

tree-worship in, 19

Gautama, 14, 41, 43, 76, 116;

and the Indian shot, 82

Germany, autumn festival in, 163, 166, 170;

Christmas-tree in, 165;

divination in, 102, 105;

May customs in, 150, 155;

tree-demons of, 19, 66;

tree-worship in, 18

Gilgames, 119, 137

Gilgit, sacred cedar of, 90

Glastonbury thorn, the, 166, 168

God, the, and the tree, 24 et seq.

Gods, food of the, 113, 114, 122

Greece, creation legends of, 74;

harvest customs of, 151;

paradise legends of, 131;

tree-worship in, 12, 17, 28, 46

Green ladies, the, 68

Hamadryads, the, 57, 58

Haoma, 13, 123, 130

Harvest May, the, 151, 173

Hāthor, a tree-goddess, 9, 10, 25

Helen, sacred tree of, 18, 31

Hera, 29, 32, 76, 155

Hermes, 79;

birth of, 76

Hesperides, trees of the, 101, 119, 136

Iceland, paradise legend of, 138

India, paradise legend of, 129;

soma ritual of, 124;

tree-worship in, 13, 14, 35, 40, 43, 64;

177

world-tree of, 115

Indra, the paradise of, 129;

and the soma, 125

Irmensûl, the, 120

Israelites, tree-worship amongst, 3, 8;

use of branches by, 48

Istar, 6, 8, 30, 88

Italy, modern belief in wood-spirits in, 58;

tree-oracles in, 100;

tree-worship in, 12, 17, 28, 37, 47

Jack-in-the-Green, 148, 157

Japan, legends of, 83, 84;

paradise legend of, 141;

tree-demons of, 70;

tree-worship in, 15;

world-tree of, 118

Jinni of Arabia, the, 24, 52, 54, 94

Laurel, the sacred, 36, 47, 50, 59, 77, 91, 98

Life-rood, the (Lebensrute), 103, 127, 170

Life, the tree of, 15, 130, 131, 142, 170

Life-tree, the, 84, 101

Little Daedala, festival of the, 155

Ljeschi, 69

Mahometan paradise, the, 132, 134

Maid Marian, 158

Maundeville, Sir J., his account of paradise, 137;

his description of a tree of paradise, 143

May-bride, the, 158

May celebrations, 21, 145 et seq.

“May,” the, 149, 151, 153

May-pole, the, 146, 154, 155

May queen, the, 146, 156

Melcarth, the cypress sacred to, 40

Melus, metamorphosis of, 80

Metamorphosis into trees, 77 et seq.

Metempsychosis into trees, 82 et seq.

Mexico, human sacrifices in, 159;

tree-symbol found in, 16;

tree-worship in, 17

Milton, his description of paradise, 135

Mistletoe, 20, 164

Mithra, 13, 40, 163

Moss-women, the, 67

Myrtle, the sacred, 13, 29, 37, 39, 86

Mulberry-tree, the, 96

Nakhla, sacred acacia of, 45

Nantes, tree-worship condemned by Council of, 20

Narcissus, metamorphosis of, 81

Nejrân, sacred palm of, 45, 99

New Zealand, cosmogonic legend of, 110

Nicaragua, tree-worship in, 17

Nu̔ît, a tree-goddess, 10, 25, 27, 117;

goddess of the sky, 110, 117

Oak, the sacred, of Ceres, 63;

of the Druids, 20;

of Esthonia, 122;

of Finland, 19, 44, 121;

of Pan, 56;

of the Roman Capitol, 25;

at Romove, 44;

of Zeus, 28, 35, 37, 93, 96, 101, 155

Olive, the, sacred to Athena, 38;

venerated by the Semites, 39, 49

Olympus, 134

Omens, tree, 101

Oracle-lots, 102

Oracles, tree, 93 et seq.

Origin-myths, 73

Oschophoria, the, 48, 152

Osiris, his emblem, the Didû or Tât, 34, 117;

a tree-god, 11, 40, 159

Palestine, tree-demons of, 54;

tree-worship in, 7, 8

Palm-tree, the, 5, 45, 49, 88, 99

Pan, a tree-god, 31, 33, 46, 56;

the pipe of, 81

Paradise, 128 et seq.;

an artificial, 143;

the earthly, 136;

trees of, 131, 142, 170

Paradise-plays, mediaeval, 169, 171

Patagonia, tree-worship in, 17

Pear-tree, the, worshipped in Circassia, 153

Permians, trees worshipped by the, 19

Persia, creation legends of, 23, 130;

haoma ritual of, 123;

tree-oracle in, 99;

tree-worship in, 13, 123;

use of branches in, 49;

world-tree of, 115, 142

Peru, wood-ghost of, 71

Pfingstl, the, 159

Phyllis, metamorphosis of, 79

Pine, the sacred, 28, 31, 56, 58, 59, 80;

venerated by the Semites, 39

Pippala, the, associated with Brahma, 14;

with Gautama, 41

Plane-tree, the, of Armavira, 99;

its connection with Pelops, 86;

with Persian kings, 13

178

Poland, tree-worship in, 19

Pomegranate, the, 5, 30, 80

Poplar, the, sacred to Dis, 39;

Zeus born beneath, 76

Puritans, denunciation of May-poles by, 21, 146

Robin Hood, king of the May, 158

Rome, grove oracle in, 100;

tree-worship in, 17, 28, 47

Romove, sacred oak of, 44

Russia, tree-demons of, 19, 66, 69;

tree-worship in, 19;

Whitsuntide custom in, 150

St. Mark’s, Venice, symbol of sacred tree in, 2, 5, 7

Sânchi, Buddhist sculptures at, 14, 42

Sanctuary, the tree as, 49

Sarmatia, divination in, 102

Saturnalia, the, 163, 172

Satyrs, the, 55, 56, 57

Scandinavia, world-tree of, 112

Scythia, divination in, 102

Seīrīm, “Satyrs” of the Bible, 54

Semites, tree-oracles of the, 95;

tree-worship amongst the, 7, 39-87

Sia Indians, cosmogony of, 118

Siam, tree-worship in, 16

Sileni, the, 55, 56

Silvanus, 28, 57

Sioux, creation legend of, 74

Soma, 124, 126

Sudan, tree-worship in the, 10

Sumatra, tree-worship in, 16

Swabia, spring observances in, 160

Sweden, divination in, 105;

May observances in, 150;

tree-spirits of, 68

Switzerland, tree-demons of, 68

Sycamores, the sacred, of Egypt, 9, 25, 27, 44, 45, 118

Taara, a tree-god, 44

Talmud, the, paradise of, 132;

life-tree mentioned in, 85

Tammuz, 6, 11, 12, 111, 159

Tapio, 70

Tât-pillar, the, 34, 117

Tengus of Japan, the, 70

Travancore, sacred tree in, 14

Tree, the, births beneath, 76;

Chaldaean symbol of the sacred, 2, 5, 30, 88;

dressed or carved as anthropomorphic god, 27, 31, 32, 35, 103;

of the community, 86, 154;

of the family, 86, 101;

of life, 15, 130, 131, 142, 170;

lights on, 91, 171;

offerings to, 30, 45, 46;

of paradise, 131, 169;

in relation to human life, 72;

as symbol of fertility, 88;

of universe, 109 et seq., 173

Tree-deities, 9, 16, 24 et seq.

Tree-demons, 16, 24, 52, 55 et seq.

Tree-nymphs, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62

Tree-oracles, 93 et seq.

Tree-origins, 73 et seq.

Tree-omens, 101

Tree-sanctuaries, 49

Tree-soul, the generalised, 90;

primitive conception of, 1

Tree-worship, in Africa, 11;

in America, 16, 17;

in Arabia, 45;

in Assyria, 6;

in Borneo, 16;

in Burma, 16;

in Canaan, 3, 8;

in Chaldaea, 4, 6, 111;

in China, 15;

in Egypt, 9, 10, 25, 45;

in England, 20;

in Esthonia, 19;

in France, 19;

in Finland, 19;

in Germany, 18;

in Greece, 17, 28, 46;

in India, 13, 14, 35, 40, 43, 64, 124;

in Japan, 15;

in Mexico, 17;

in Nicaragua, 17;

in Palestine, 3, 7, 8;

in Patagonia, 17;

in Persia, 13, 123;

in Phoenicia, 8, 12;

in Phrygia, 12;

in Poland, 19;

in Rome, 17, 46;

in Russia, 19;

in the Semitic area, 7, 39, 87;

in Siam, 16;

in the Sudan, 11;

in Sumatra, 16;

origin of, 22

Trees, Christmas flowering, 116;

legends of bleeding, 62, 63;

legends of speaking, 101

Tristram and Iseult, legend of, 82

Trophonius, oracle of, 94

Tylor, Mr. E. B., on tree-worship, 21

Tyrol, wild women of, 67

Upsala, sacred grove of, 43

Vine-women of Lucian, the, 60

Vine, the, sacred to Dionysus, 39;

to Dusares, 40;

venerated by the Semites, 39

Vishnu, 43, 76

“Wege-warte,” legend of the, 83

Wends, the, and the May-pole, 156

Wild-fanggen, the, 67

179

Wild men of the woods, 21, 52, 56, 66, 68, 71, 161

Willow, the, connected with Artemis, 29;

with Hera, 29, 76;

inhabited by tree-spirit, 62

Woden, 43

Wood-maidens, 67

World-mountain, the, 110, 112, 118, 134

World-tree, the, 109 et seq.;

of Buddhists, 116;

of Chaldaea, 111;

of Egypt, 110, 117;

of Esthonia, 122;

of Finland, 120;

of India, 115;

of Persia, 115;

of Scandinavia, 112

Yggdrasil, 112 et seq.

Zeus, a tree-god, 18, 28, 29, 35, 46, 155;

oracle of, at Dodona, 93, 96

Zeus-Ammon, oracle of, 96

THE END

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