μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 1reference

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • Africa (Zulu)Callaway 236, (Basuto): Jacottet 128ff. No. 18.
Within the index

Filed under Fate of abandoned child.

3 finer motifs beneath it
Abandoned child made over to its own mother (sister) acting as wet nurseAbandoned child cared for by grandmother (aunt, foster mother)Abandoned child reared by herdsman. (Cf. R131.3.)
Filed beside it
Infant condemned to death saved by a smileChild driven out (exposed) brought up in secretAnimal aids abandoned child(ren). (Cf. B535.)Abandoned child reared by supernatural beingsExposed infant reared at strange king's court (Joseph, Oedipus)Exposed child carried off by wild beast. (Cf. R13.)Children left at home seek exposed brothers and sistersAbandoned sister rescued by brothers. When she is refused entrance to house, she makes complaint in a song and brothers bring her clothesBird carries food from deserted child to starving parentsStarving parents come to abandoned child for foodMaltreated children transformed. (Cf. D642.)Abandoned children return and kill parentsAbandoned daughter's son becomes heroOld woman's maledictions inform abandoned hero of his parentage and future. He has knocked her over (broken pots)Tree feeds abandoned children with its sapDeserted children become Thunder
Travels with
Parents rescues child. (Cf. S351.)

wander