μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Solvers of riddles.

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

ask the rhapsode about this motif →

Attested across traditions
  • Greco-RomanThe 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.” uncorrected OCR — being verified against the scan

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 kingKing and abbot. King propounds three riddles to abbot to answer on pain of death. Herdsman disguises as abbot and answers questionsSolomon and Marcolf. Witty questions and answers between youth and servantKing and clever youth. King asks questions; youth returns riddling answersKing and clever minister. King propounds riddles and questions to his clever ministerKing and peasant vie in riddling questions and answersDruid as solver of riddlesCleric as solver of riddlesClever prince interprets enigmatic statementsSaint as solver of riddles
Filed beside it
Supernatural creatures propound riddles. (See also H541.1.1, H543, G681.)Queen propounds riddlesKing propounds riddlesSaint as propounder of riddlesBridegroom propounds riddles at wedding feastRiddle propounded with penalty for failureDeath sentence escaped by propounding riddle king (judge) cannot solveEscape from devil by answering his riddlesAnswers found in other world to riddles propounded on wayRiddle contestsPrincess offered to man who can out-riddle herMan marries girl who guesses his riddlesInscription 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 windsTransformation: man to swineTransformation: woman to bitchTransformation: man to doveTransformation: man (woman) to almond treeTransformation by drinkingDisenchantment from tree form by embrace of loverMoly: magic plantMagic lotus plant. (Cf. D975.1.)Magic drinkMagic chairLotus causes forgetfulness. (Cf. D965.6, D2004.3.)

wander