μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Solvers of riddles.

Tests. · Tests of cleverness. · Riddles. · Propounding of riddles. · view the constellation · filed as H561

Attested across traditions
  • Greco-Roman The Library (Bibliotheca) , APOLLODORI BIBLIOTHECA, ch. 33 receipt

    “when Calchas asked, “ How many figs does it bear?’’ Mopsus answered, “Ten thousand, and a bushel, and one fig over,” and they were found to be so.”

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed
Within the index

Filed under Propounding of riddles.

10 finer motifs beneath it
Clever peasant girl asked riddles by king King and abbot. King propounds three riddles to abbot to answer on pain of death. Herdsman disguises as abbot and answers questions Solomon and Marcolf. Witty questions and answers between youth and servant King and clever youth. King asks questions; youth returns riddling answers King and clever minister. King propounds riddles and questions to his clever minister King and peasant vie in riddling questions and answers Druid as solver of riddles Cleric as solver of riddles Clever prince interprets enigmatic statements Saint as solver of riddles
Filed beside it
Supernatural creatures propound riddles. (See also H541.1.1, H543, G681.) Queen propounds riddles King propounds riddles Saint as propounder of riddles Bridegroom propounds riddles at wedding feast Riddle propounded with penalty for failure Death sentence escaped by propounding riddle king (judge) cannot solve Escape from devil by answering his riddles Answers found in other world to riddles propounded on way Riddle contests Princess offered to man who can out-riddle her Man marries girl who guesses his riddles Inscription on home of riddle-solver "I have no care." Riddle propounded from chance experience. On way to riddle trial youth sees things that give him a clue for his riddles
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Bag of winds. Wind is confined in a bag. Man breaks prohibition against looking into bag and releases winds Transformation: man to swine Transformation: woman to bitch Transformation: man to dove Transformation: man (woman) to almond tree Transformation by drinking Disenchantment from tree form by embrace of lover Moly: magic plant Magic lotus plant. (Cf. D975.1.) Magic drink Magic chair Lotus causes forgetfulness. (Cf. D965.6, D2004.3.)

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