μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Filed across the traditions
  • Irish myth *Cross
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Africa (Angola) Chatelain 139 No. 13.
  • general Jacobs' list s. v. "Eyes exchanged"
  • general Fb "øje" III 1166a
  • general Köhler-Bolte I 434ff.
  • general Gaster Thespis 333f.
Within the index

Filed under Vital bodily members. They possess life independent of the rest of the body. (Cf. F1096.)

3 finer motifs beneath it
Substituted eyes. Lost eyes are replaced by those of another person or animal. (Cf. F512.1.4.) Eyes bought back and replaced Eyes borrowed by animal. Later returned
Filed beside it
Vital body: kills attacking enemies Animal bodily members transferred to person or other animal retains animal powers and habits. (Cf. E781, E782.) Limbs successfully replaced Vital head. Retains life after being cut off. (Cf. D992, F511.) Flesh regrows Vital skin. Retains life after death of owner Heart successfully replaced Stomach borrowed by animal. Later returned Severed pap regrows when woman bears child Vital bodily members – miscellaneous
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Animal bodily members transferred to person or other animal retains animal powers and habits. (Cf. E781, E782.)
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Tabu: using magic power too often Three foolish wishes. Three wishes will be granted: used up foolishly The eye-juggler. A trickster sees a man throwing his eyes into the air and replacing them. He also receives this power but he must not use the power beyond a specified number of times. When he does so, he loses his eyes. He usually gets animal eyes as substitutes

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