μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Act of truth. Person asserts a thing as true declaring: "If my words are true, may this or that happen."

Tests. · Tests of truth. · Other tests of truth. · view the constellation · filed as H252

Filed across the traditions
  • Icelandic *Boberg
  • Jewish *Neuman
  • India *Thompson-Balys, *Penzer II 31ff., III 179ff., IV 239 n. 3
  • Buddhist myth Malalasekera I 23, 96, 151, 490, 531, 707, 832, II 412, 473, 614, 679, 816, 841, 933, 1060, 1098, 1153, 1258.
  • general W. J. Rees Lives of the Cambro-British Saints 193
  • general J. P. Collier Old Shakespeare Society XIV 82
  • general Alphabet Nos. 35, 486
  • general *Burlingame Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (July 1917) 429ff.
  • general Fb "ildebrand" II 13. Irish myth: *Cross
Within the index

Filed under Other tests of truth.

7 finer motifs beneath it
Test: telling true stories Placing hand on genitals as test of truth Amount of blood in spittle as test of complete subjection. Incomplete till all is blood If oath is false, fruit will fall. (Cf. H251.3.10.) Oath taken on boy's head: boy to die if false Act of truth: island sinks into sea, after hanging of man who has appealed to God to cause the phenomenon as indication of his innocence. (Cf. F948.) Act of truth: cursed church clock never runs correctly
Filed beside it
Worn-out shoes as proof of long journey Credential tests: proof that messenger comes from certain person Nature fruitless if false judgment is passed Person magically disfigured when he speaks falsely Casting lots as truth test Test of death: to see whether person is dead or feigning Test of truth by magic object Oaths before gods as test of truth Test: which of twins is elder. Younger unthinkingly hands chopsticks to elder and thus betrays his junior rank Test of innocence: apple and gold offered. Innocent person takes apple Holiness of saint tested: asked to perform miracles Gold in the Bible. A man professes to be a great Bible reader. King leaves a piece of money in the Bible. On his next visit it is still there Test of sin Footsteps in manure (dust) as proof that dead man has walked

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