μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Compassionate executioner: substituted child. The servant charged with sending the hero to executioners sends his own child instead.

Deceptions. · Escape by deception. · Death order evaded. · view the constellation · filed as K512.2.2

Filed across the traditions
  • Jewish *Neuman
  • Japanese Ikeda.
  • general *Boje 63 n. 1
Within the index

Filed under Compassionate executioner: substituted heart. A servant charged with killing the hero (heroine) substitutes an animal, whose heart he takes to his master as proof of the execution.

1 finer motif beneath it
Executioner makes substitution when victim escapes
Filed beside it
Compassionate executioner: substituted brains (other animal for helpful animal) Eyes of animal substituted as proof for eyes of children Eyes, ears, fingers of corpse substituted for those demanded of victim Animal substituted for child served at meal Compassionate executioner: substituted puppet drowned Compassionate executioner: mutilation substituted for death

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