μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Ordeal by fire. Suspected person must pass through or jump over fire to determine guilt or innocence.

Tests. · Tests of truth. · Tests of guilt or innocence. · Ordeals. · view the constellation · filed as H221

Filed across the traditions
  • English Child V 490 s. v. "ordeal"
  • Jewish *Neuman
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Hindu Keith 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 coal Ordeal by hot iron Ordeal by burning oil Ordeal by boiling water Ordeal by spitting. Extinguishing fire is proof of innocence
Filed beside it
Ordeal by water. Guilt or innocence shown by ability to swim Ordeal by poison Ordeal by crocodiles (snakes). Judgment depends on whether person is devoured or rejected by crocodiles Ordeal by rope-walking Ordeal by balance. Defendant is weighed twice. He must be lighter second time Ordeal: carrying murdered man's blood. Must not spill it Ordeal by creeping under a sod partially detached from the earth without its falling down Ordeal by bread and cheese. Declaration: if I am not innocent may I choke on bread and cheese Ordeal: taking stone out of bucket. Color indicates guilt or innocence Scales test: weighing witch against Bible Ordeal: cock under pot crows when guilty person touches pot Ordeal by exposure. (Cf. S141, S331.)

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