μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Deceptive tug-of-war. Small animal challenges two large animals to a tug-of-war. Arranges it so that they unwittingly pull against each other (or one end of rope is tied to a tree).

Deceptions. · Contests won by deception. · Athletic contest won by deception. · view the constellation · filed as K22

Filed across the traditions
  • Africa (Mpongwe) Nassau 37 No. 5, (Ibo, Nigeria): Basden 277, Thomas 145, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 377 No. 2
  • American Negro (Georgia) Harris Remus 124 No. 26
  • Bahama Parsons MAFLS XIII 74 No. 34, Edwards MAFLS III 65
  • West Indies Flowers 495ff.
  • general South American Negro: C. F. Hartt Amazonian Tortoise Myths (Rio de Janeiro, 1875) 20, Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 83 No. 27
Within the index

Filed under Athletic contest won by deception.

Filed beside it
Race won by deception Wrestling match won by deception Boxing match: fatal boxer defeated. All comers are challenged and all are killed until the hero defeats the challenger. (Argonauts and Amycus.) Rowing contest won by deception. The boat is already sawed through Climbing match won by deception Diving match won by deception Jumping contest won by deception Throwing contest won by deception Deceptive shinny match Deception in swinging contest Flying contest won by deception Blowing contest won by deception Riding contest won by substitution Tournament won by deception on borrowed horse
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Contest: pulling on steak with teeth. Two men take an end of a steak in their teeth; each attempts to pull it away from the other. After each has a good hold, the Irishman says (with clenched teeth) "Noo're ready?" The Dutchman says, "Yah!", loses the steak. (Cf. K22, K561.1.)
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “unwittingly” · wander