μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

The Cranes of Ibycus. Murdered man calls on cranes, the only witnesses of the murder, to avenge him. The cranes follow the murderer and point him out.

Chance and fate. · The ways of luck and fate. · Crime inevitably comes to light. · view the constellation · filed as N271.3

Filed across the traditions
  • Spanish Espinosa Jr. No. 209
  • Jewish *Neuman.
  • general *BP II 532
  • general *Amalfi Zs. f. Vksk. VI 115ff.
  • general *Zachariae ibid. IX 336
  • general Scala Celi 100b No. 539
  • general Hertz Abhandlungen 334
  • general Köhler-Bolte II 563
  • general Chauvin II 123, VII 146
  • general *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 27. England: Baughman
Within the index

Filed under Murder will out.

1 finer motif beneath it
Ravens pursue murderer who has killed two children
Filed beside it
The sun brings all to light. The murderer repeats as he sees the rays of the sun, the last words of the dying man, thus betraying the crime Murder revealed by unusual names of boys. The dying man leaves message to name his sons "O God" and "O king" (or the like). This arouses the king's curiosity and brings the murder to light Murder discovered through knowledge of bird languages. Birds point out the murder Murderer through miracle suspected of theft; murder thus discovered Murder revealed by child Murder discovered on digging foundations of house. House burns. Diggers discover body Murderer traced through victim's ring Tree follows murderer Ship will sink if murderer is aboard Murder will out: murderers quarrel under influence of drink and reveal crime
Carried in tale types

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