Abstract:
Many tenets first formulated by Sir James Frazer in his magnum opus The Golden Bough still survive to this day in discussions of ancient Mesopotamian cult, myth, and religion. As a case study for the still pernicious influence of Frazer's work I will use the early Sumerian mythological fragment ‘Ninsumun and Lugalbanda' (dating to ca. 2,600 BCE). After a short introduction to the text I will highlight how concepts formulated in The Golden Bough have influenced earlier scholars, particularly their interpretation of the role of the goddess Ninsumun and what they thought the text meant. Using concepts formulated by Frazer and methodologically using the normative comparisons for which Frazer's The Golden Bough is justly (in)famous they arrived at interpretations that were coloured by what they already wanted the text to say, rather than engaging with it with fewer preconceived notions.
Additional Authors: Shaking the Tree, Breaking the Bough: Frazer's Golden Bough at 100 (Conference); Tully, Caroline Jane; Budin, Stephanie Lynn; University of Melbourne;
