μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Woodsman and the gold axe. A woodsman lets his axe fall into the water. Hermes comes to his rescue. Takes out a gold axe but the woodsman says that it is not his. The same with a silver axe. Finally he is given his own axe and rewarded for his modest choice. His companion tries this plan and loses his axe.

Rewards and punishments. · Rewards and punishments. · view the constellation · filed as Q3.1

Filed across the traditions
  • Lithuanian Balys Index No. 729*
  • Chinese Eberhard FFC CXX 34 No. 20
  • Japanese Ikeda.
  • general Wienert FFC LVI 79* (ET 449), 139 (ST 444)
  • general Halm Aesop No. 308
Within the index

Filed under Moderate request rewarded; immoderate punished.

Filed beside it
Lion divides slain bullock. The thief who demands half of the bullock driven off; the traveler who modestly withdraws invited to take half
Carried in tale types

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