μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 2references

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.

  • Africa (Basuto)Jacottet 182, (Ekoi): Talbot 402
  • Jamaica*Beckwith MAFLS XVII 238 No. 9.
Within the index

Filed under Ordeals. Guilt or innocence thus established.

2 finer motifs beneath it
Ordeal: walking on ladder of knivesOrdeal: walking on eggs
Filed beside it
Ordeal by fire. Suspected person must pass through or jump over fire to determine guilt or innocenceOrdeal 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 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