μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Donkeys ask immediate reward from God: eat their own excrements.

Mythological motifs. · Animal characteristics. · Various causes of animal characteristics. · Animal characteristics as punishment. · view the constellation · filed as A2232.11

Filed across the traditions
  • Jewish Neuman.
Within the index

Filed under Animal characteristics: punishment for immoderate request. Dissatisfied animal finds that when his request is granted he is worse off than before.

Filed beside it
Camel asks for horns: punishment, short ears. (Cf. A2325.4.) Bees pray for sting: punishment, first sting suicidal. (Cf. A2346.1.) Beetle makes immoderate request; ant moderate: inverse awards. Creator hears wishes of animals. Beetle wants strong, noble appearance. Ant is modest. Beetle punished by being made to creep on ground. Ant is given own castle. (Cf. A2441.3.1.) Griffin disdains to go on ark; drowned: hence extinct Animals ask for goddess's perfume: punishment, bad odor. (Cf. A2416.1.) Birds who aspire to blackbird's coat punished. (Cf. A2412.2.2.) Peacock given ugly feet so as to prevent too great arrogance. (Cf. A2375.2.2.) Dog's embassy to Zeus chased forth; dogs seek ambassador: why dogs sniff each other under leg. (Cf. A2471.1.) Ants ask God to give them wings: wind blows them away Raven attempts to imitate dove: punished with awkward gait

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “excrements” · wander