Son returning home after long absence unwittingly killed by parents. (Cf. N338.3.) — Mythoi

Motif

Son returning home after long absence unwittingly killed by parents. (Cf. N338.3.)

Chance and fate. · Unlucky accidents. · Person unwittingly killed. · view the constellation · filed as N321

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed

Reference The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (abridged) , Chapter XIX XIX. Tabooed Acts

Filed across the traditions

Lithuanian Balys Index No. 939*
Livonian Loorits FFC LXVI No. 9391.
general Type 939*

Within the index

Filed under Person unwittingly killed.

Filed beside it

Man unwittingly causes death of daughter Eavesdropping person unwittingly killed Parricide prophecy unwittingly fulfilled Man unwittingly kills prince. Exiled Unwitting murder because of insane illusion

Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)

Son killed because mistaken for someone else. (Cf. N321.)

Carried in tale types

Killing the Returned Soldier · ATU 939A 1 recorded variant

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