Women, driven mad, devour their infants' flesh — Mythoi

Motif

Women, driven mad, devour their infants' flesh.

Chance and fate. · Unlucky accidents. · Person unwittingly killed. · view the constellation · filed as N325.2

Filed across the traditions

Greek Frazer Apollodorus I 331 n. 4. → on our shelf: The Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK III, ch. V

Within the index

Filed under Unwitting murder because of insane illusion.

Filed beside it

Man kills son thinking that he is cutting a branch Mother kills son thinking him a wild beast

Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes

Sphinx. Has face of woman, body and tail of lion, wings of bird Tabu: killing sacred dragon. (Cf. B11.) Transformation to animal for breaking tabu Transformation: man to dolphin Transformation: oars and masts to serpents Transformation as punishment Journey to upper world. Most references for F0 discuss this motif Man kills son thinking that he is cutting a branch Mother kills son thinking him a wild beast Punishment: drawing asunder by horses. (Cf. Q469.12.) Cowherd rescues abandoned child Child's ankles pierced before exposing him

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