μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 11references

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • EnglishChild V 490 s. v. "ordeal"
  • Jewish*Neuman
  • India*Thompson-Balys
  • HinduKeith 128
  • S. Am. Indian (Brazil)Ehrenreich Int. Cong. Americanists XIV 661
  • Am. Negro (Georgia)Harris Nights 248 No. 42
  • Jamaica*Beckwith MAFLS XVII 238 No. 9.
  • general Basset RTP VI 631
  • general Scala Celi 6b, 46b Nos. 38, 259
  • general Herbert III 605f., Alphabet Nos. 69, 221, 434
  • general *Gaster Exempla 191 No. 28. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 71
Within the index

Filed under Ordeals. Guilt or innocence thus established.

5 finer motifs beneath it
Ordeal by burning coalOrdeal by hot ironOrdeal by burning oilOrdeal by boiling waterOrdeal by spitting. Extinguishing fire is proof of innocence
Filed beside it
Ordeal by water. Guilt or innocence shown by ability to swimOrdeal by poisonOrdeal by crocodiles (snakes). Judgment depends on whether person is devoured or rejected by crocodilesOrdeal by rope-walkingOrdeal by balance. Defendant is weighed twice. He must be lighter second timeOrdeal: carrying murdered man's blood. Must not spill itOrdeal by creeping under a sod partially detached from the earth without its falling downOrdeal by bread and cheese. Declaration: if I am not innocent may I choke on bread and cheeseOrdeal: taking stone out of bucket. Color indicates guilt or innocenceScales test: weighing witch against BibleOrdeal: cock under pot crows when guilty person touches potOrdeal by exposure. (Cf. S141, S331.)

wander