Keystone and the Divine King：A Study on the Nyikang of the Shilluk and Divine Kingship

In his famous book The Golden Bough,]ames Frazer mentioned one special custom found along the shores of Lake Nemi in Italy. The forest king who lived beside Lake N e m i, was not only once a prisoner, but also the murderer of his predecessor. W hy did the K ing have to be kille d ? How could he be k ille d ? This was the very starting point of James Frazer’s divine kingship study. This was in contrast to the common idea held in many cultures, that kings, or even gods, would die.