Monday, September 13, 2010

A king is crowned....

    "Of the supernaturally endowed kings of Loango it is said that the more powerful a king is, the more taboos is he bound to observe; they regulate all his actions, his walking and his standing, his eating and drinking, his sleeping and waking.  To these restraints the heir to the throne is subject from infancy; but as he advances in life the number of abstinences and ceremonies which he must observe increases, 'until at the moment he ascends the throne he is lost in the ocean of rites and taboos'" (139 Frazer)

   Based on power, a king is forced to observe more rituals.  By following these rituals the king has become the embodiment of powerful.  His people will not question whether or not he is worthy of his throne.  Even today influential people go through the steps and ceremonies that are required of them.  Our very own MSU President has been inaugerated into his power. In order to become a recepient, he has gone through a sort of initiation.  Much like we discussed in class about intiations and origins, the use of initiation helps us to recall our mythical origins.

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