μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Secret wealth betrayed by money left in borrowed money-scales.

Chance and fate. · Lucky accidents. · Valuable secrets learned. · Secrets overheard. · view the constellation · filed as N478

Filed across the traditions
  • Spanish Boggs FFC XC 70 No. 545C*
  • Missouri French Carrière
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Philippine Fansler MAFLS XII 336, 338
  • Africa (Ekoi) Talbot 389.
  • general *Type 676
  • general *BP III 137ff.
  • general *Fb "skjæppe" III 275b
Within the index

Filed under Secrets overheard.

1 finer motif beneath it
Secret meat-eating betrayed by grease on mouth
Filed beside it
Secrets overheard from animal (demon) conversation Secret remedy overheard in conversation of animals (witches) Man transformed as ant, learns secret of freeing princess Conversation of objects overheard Overheard (human) conversation Enigmatical smile (laugh) reveals secret knowledge Secret physical peculiarity discovered by barber. (Midas.) Daughter lousing mother weeps and reveals secret King in disguise to learn secrets of his subjects Newborn babe reveals secret; then becomes silent Foolish attempt of second man to overhear secrets (from animals, demons etc.). He is punished Secret name overheard by eavesdropper Secret of unique vulnerability disclosed Secret escapes with man's blood Secret learned by torture Giant unwittingly reveals span of life to dwarf, who is thus emboldened to attack him
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “money-scales” · wander