μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed
Within the index
18 finer motifs beneath it
Lucky foolSeries of lucky successesHusband (lover) arrives home just as wife (mistress) is to marry anotherProphecy of future greatness fulfilled when hero returns home unknown. Parents serve himStranger accidentally chosen king. Picked up by sacred elephantNaked soldier becomes general. Stripped for bathing he takes his place as guard when the king unexpectedly arrives. King invites him to come naked to the castle, where he is chosen as husband by a general's daughterFool passes as wise man by remaining silentHero's (heroine's) identity established as he (she) is on the point of being executedHero unwittingly helps fee's sons: rewardedWhat is in the dish: "Poor Crab". A sham wise man named Crab is put to a test of his powers of divination. He is to tell what is in a covered dish (crabs). In despair he says, "Poor Crab!" and is given credit for knowingObjects accidentally picked up used to overawe ogressPerson reported lost joins unwittingly in search for himselfMan sent away from battlefield to deliver message the only survivor of battleApparently dead woman revives as she is being prepared for burial. Cf. Type 990Passengers on a boat are terrorized by a cutthroat. He turns courteous and leaves them unharmedFugitive in tree urinates from fright: pursuers think it rain and leaveHawk carries off necklace from bathing queen and drops it by lucky girl, who gets rewardOther lucky accidents

wander