μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Prophecy: future greatness of unborn child. (Cf. M301.2.2, M301.5.1, M301.12, M359.3, M371.1.)

Ordaining the future. · Prophecies. · Favorable prophecies. · view the constellation · filed as M311

ask the rhapsode about this motif →

“The legend, these writers inform us, was told to explain why the maiden goddess Artemis was invoked by women in childbed, Now Artemis devoted herself to the chase and remained a maid; but Apollo learned the art of prophecy from Pan, theson of Zeus and Hybris,! and came to Delphi, where Themis at that time used to deliver oracles;? and when the snake Python, which guarded the oracle, would have hindered him from approaching the chasm,?…”

— The Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK I, ch. IV · served from our shelf uncorrected OCR — being verified against the scan

On our shelf — the index’s citations, resolved to served chapters
  • GreekThe Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK I, ch. IVThompson cites: Frazer Apollodorus I 24 n. 1 (Zeus and Mitis), Roscher Lexikon s. v. "Achilleus"
Scholars’ trail — 9references

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • Irish myth*Cross
  • DanishGrundtvig No. 42
  • IcelandicBoberg
  • Spanish ExemplaKeller
  • GreekFrazer Apollodorus I 24 n. 1 (Zeus and Mitis), Roscher Lexikon s. v. "Achilleus" → on our shelf: The Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK I, ch. IV
  • India*Thompson-Balys.
  • general Gaster Exempla 229 No. 242 (Moses)
  • general Wells 103 (Alliterative Alexander Fragment)
  • general Loomis White Magic 16f.
Within the index

Filed under Favorable prophecies.

10 finer motifs beneath it
Heroic career prophesied for (new-born) childProphecy: birth of hero at certain time (in certain place)Prophecy: child to be bornHeavenly voices proclaim birth of future child heroProphecy: king's grandson will dethrone himProphecy: child born at certain time will build religious edifice. (Cf. M312.5.)Prophecy: unborn child to be a saintProphecy: unborn child to become king. (Cf. M314.)Unborn child will become nation's delivererProphecy: unborn child will be prophet
Filed beside it
Prophecy: future greatness and fameProphecy of future greatness for youthMan transformed into swine will regain his human form after third marriageProphecy: man (child) will become king. (Cf. M311.4.)Prophecy: man will eat magic salmon and gain knowledgeProphecy: strength to be gained when milk is drunk from hero's skullProphecy: race will never be without an illustrious womanProphecy: no snakes in IrelandProphecy: long lifeProphecy: person will avenge his own deathProphecy: victory against great oddsProphecy: future Golden AgeProphecy: glory and prosperity for a peopleProphecy: future success as hunterPrincess to marry prince
Travels with
Three fates, "norns", prophesy at child's birthOld Woman, "völva", prophesies at child's birthAnchorite prophesies at childbirthProphecy: unborn child to kill enemy in revengeExposure (murder) of child to avoid fulfillment of prophecy of future greatness. Parent fears that the child will overcome himDestined hero. (Cf. M311, T22.)
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Tabu: mortal lusting after goddessGiant. A person of enormous size. (For giants who are primarily ogres see G100 and G400–G599.)Giant wades the oceanGiant throws a great rockBlindness healed by sun's raysOgre made drunk and overcomeGod swallows his pregnant wife to prevent birth of son whom he fearsFlaying alive as punishment for contesting with a godBirth from person's head

wander