The Myth of Birth of the Hero

8/10/2019 The Myth of Birth of the Hero

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THE MYTH OF THE BIRTH OF THEHERO

A Psychological Interpretation of Mythology

(Translation of Der Mythus von der Geburt des Helden: Versuch einer Psychologischen Mythendeutung . Leip ig! "e#tic$e! %&'&

)y Otto Ran$

Translate* fro+ the ,er+an )y "rs. F. Ro))ins an* -+ith Ely elliffe

/er0o#s an* Mental "isease Monograph -eries /o. %1.

The o#rnal of /er0o#s an* Mental "isease P#)lishing 2o+pany! /e3 Yor$

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Otto Rank, (b. 1884, d. 1939), was a brilliant Austrian psychologist who was part o!ig"und #r$ud%s inn$r circl$. &his $arly "onograph by Rank is a groundbr$akingapplication o th$ psychoanalytic "$thod to co"parati'$ "ythology. At th$ turn o th$th c$ntury psychologists w$r$ b$ginning to att$"pt to unra'$l th$ "yst$ri$s o th$

hu"an psych$, particularly through th$ "$diu" o classical "ythology. &his wouldlat$r l$ad to th$ insights o *ung, *os$ph +a"pb$ll and oth$rs. ut on$ o th$ irstscholars who $-plor$d this con'$rg$nc$ was Otto Rank.

On$ o th$ "ost '$-ing u$stions o co"parati'$ "ythology, which will b$ "or$ thanob'ious to $'$n casual r$ad$rs o this sit$, ar$ th$ cross/cultural si"ilariti$s in "yths,olklor$ and l$g$nds. #or instanc$, th$ lood "yth, th$ h$roic u$st, and particularly

birth/tal$s o th$ h$ro, app$ar around th$ world, ro" A rica to !outh A"$rica. 0h$nthis was writt$n th$ study o "ythology was $"$rging ro" a p$riod wh$r$ att$"pts to$-plain this by di usion or astrono"ical ph$no"$na had b$$n $-haust$d. Rank inst$adatt$"pt$d to $-plain th$s$ co""on "oti s in t$r"s o what h$ b$li$'$d to b$

psychological uni'$rsals.

n this study Rank looks at a a wid$ 'ari$ty o 2urasian h$ro birth narrati'$s, includingr$$k, Ro"an, *ud$o/+hristian, ndian, and $r"anic l$g$ndary igur$s. $ us$s th$"$thodology and 'ocabulary o classic #r$udian psychoanalysis to do so. &h$ "iddl$

part o this book, wh$r$ Rank $nu"$rat$s so"$ o th$s$ tal$s, will b$ th$ "ost us$ ulor "od$rn r$ad$rs, as h$ draws on a wid$ rang$ o sourc$s, so"$ o th$" airly

obscur$. n th$ last part h$ puts th$s$ "yths %on th$ couch% as it w$r$, and ti$s up histh$sis '$ry coh$r$ntly.

n lat$r y$ars, Rank brok$ with #r$ud, who had b$$n so"$what o a ath$r igur$ to hi",ironically ul illing hal o th$ O$dipus co"pl$- about which th$y part$d ways. $"o'$d to 5aris in 19 6 wh$r$ h$ took cli$nts such as $nry 7ill$r and Ana s in, who"$ntions Rank o t$n in h$r "$"oirs.


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Production notes. &his was $-tract$d ro" th$ 19:9 ;intag$ r$print o this t$-t in The Myth of the Birth of the Hero and other Writings. 5ag$ nu"b$rs ar$ ro" that $dition.2ditorial ootnot$s and th$ additional writings ro" th$ 19:9 $dition w$r$ o"itt$d. &h$r$st o th$ (original) ootnot$s w$r$ r$nu"b$r$d on a pag$/by/pag$ basis.

--J.B. Hare, October 16th, 2 6

p. 3

I. Introduction

& 2 pro"in$nt ci'ili


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"at$rial. &his pro ound and $-t$nsi'$ r$s$arch o "od$rn in'$stigations has shown thatndia, rath$r than abylonia, "ay b$ r$gard$d as th$ irst ho"$ o th$ "yths. 7or$o'$r,th$ tal$s pr$su"ably did not radiat$ ro" a singl$ point, but tra'$l$d o'$r and across th$$ntir$ inhabit$d glob$. &his brings into pro"in$nc$ th$ id$a o th$ int$rd$p$nd$nc$ o"ythological structur$s, an id$a which was g$n$rali


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n'$stigations along th$s$ lin$s will n$c$ssarily h$lp to pro'id$ a d$$p$r insight into th$cont$nts o th$ tal$s. $arly all authors who ha'$ hith$rto b$$n $ngag$d in th$int$rpr$tation o th$ birth "yths o h$ro$s ind in th$" a p$rsoni ication o th$

proc$ss$s o natur$, ollowing th$ do"inant "od$ o natural "ythologicalint$rpr$tation.

p. C

Dparagraph continu$sE &h$ n$wborn h$ro is th$ young sun rising ro" th$ wat$rs, irstcon ront$d by low$ring clouds, but inally triu"phing o'$r all obstacl$s. 1 &h$ takinginto consid$ration o all natural (chi$ ly at"osph$ric) ph$no"$na//as was don$ by th$irst r$pr$s$ntati'$s o this "$thod o "yth int$rpr$tation //and th$ r$garding o th$l$g$nds, in a "or$ r$strict$d s$ns$, as astral "yths (!tuck$n, 0inckl$r, and oth$rs) ar$approach$s not so $ss$ntially distinct as th$ ollow$rs o $ach indi'idual dir$ction

b$li$'$ to b$ th$ cas$. or do$s it s$$" a basic i"pro'$"$nt wh$n th$ pur$ly solarint$rpr$tation, as ad'ocat$d $sp$cially by #rob$nius, 3 was no long$r acc$pt$d and th$

'i$w was ad'anc$d that all "yths w$r$ originally lunar. Fsing holds this th$ory in hisdiscussion o th$ "yth o +yrus th$ r$at? !i$ck$ also clai"s this 'i$w as th$ onlyl$giti"at$, ob'ious int$rpr$tation o th$ birth "yths o th$ h$ro$s? and it is a conc$ptthat is b$ginning to gain popularity. 4

&h$ int$rpr$tation o th$ "yths th$"s$l'$s will b$ tak$n up in d$tail lat$r on, and w$shall r$ rain h$r$ ro" all d$tail$d critical co""$nts on th$ abo'$ "od$ o $-planation.Although signi icant, and undoubt$dly in part corr$ct, th$ astral th$ory is not altog$th$rsatis actory and ails to a ord an insight into th$ "oti'$s o "yth or"ation. &h$obB$ction "ay b$ rais$d that th$ tracing to astrono"ical proc$ss$s do$s not ullyr$pr$s$nt th$ cont$nt o th$s$ "yths, and that "uch cl$ar$r and si"pl$r r$lations "ight

b$ $stablish$d through anoth$r "od$ o int$rpr$tation. &h$ "uch abus$d th$ory o$l$"$ntal id$as indicat$s a practically

p. 8

n$gl$ct$d asp$ct o "ythological r$s$arch. At th$ b$ginning, as w$ll as at th$ $nd o hiscontribution, au$r points out how "uch "or$ natural and probabl$ it would b$ to s$$kth$ r$ason or th$ g$n$ral unani"ity o th$s$ "yths in th$ '$ry g$n$ral traits o th$hu"an psych$, rath$r than in pri"ary co""unity or "igration. &his assu"ption app$arsto b$ "or$ Busti iabl$, sinc$ such g$n$ral "o'$"$nts o th$ hu"an "ind ar$ also$-pr$ss$d in still oth$r or"s and in oth$r do"ains, wh$r$ th$y can b$ d$"onstrat$d as

uni'$rsal.

+onc$rning th$ charact$r o th$s$ g$n$ral "o'$"$nts o th$ hu"an "ind, th$ psychological study o th$ $ss$nc$ o th$s$ "yths "ight h$lp to r$'$al th$ sourc$ ro"which has low$d uni or"ly, at all ti"$s and in all plac$s, an id$ntical "ythologicalcont$nt. !uch a d$ri'ation o an $ss$ntial constitu$nt, ro" a co""on hu"an sourc$,has alr$ady b$$n succ$ss ully att$"pt$d with on$ o th$s$ l$g$ndary "oti s. #r$ud, inhis $nter%retation of &rea"s, r$'$als th$ conn$ction o th$ O$dipus abl$//wh$r$O$dipus is told by th$ oracl$ that h$ will kill his ath$r and "arry his "oth$r, as h$unwittingly do$s lat$r//with two typical dr$a"s $-p$ri$nc$d by "any now li'ing= th$dr$a" o th$ ath$r%s d$ath, and th$ dr$a" o s$-ual int$rcours$ with th$ "oth$r. OGing O$dipus h$ says=
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is at$ "o'$s us only b$caus$ it "ight ha'$ b$$n our own, b$caus$ th$ oracl$laid upon us b$ or$ our birth th$ '$ry curs$ which r$st$d upon hi". t "ay b$that w$ w$r$ all d$stin$d to dir$ct our irst s$-ual i"puls$s toward our "oth$rs,and our irst i"puls$s o hatr$d and r$sistanc$ toward our ath$rs? our dr$a"scon'inc$ us that w$ w$r$. Ging O$dipus, who sl$w his ath$r aius and w$dd$d

his "oth$r *ocasta, is p. 9

nothing "or$ or l$ss than a wish/ ul ill"$nt//th$ ul ill"$nt o th$ wish o ourchildhood. 1

&h$ "ani $station o th$ inti"at$ r$lationship b$tw$$n dr$a" and "yth//not only inr$gard to th$ cont$nt but also as to th$ or" and "otor orc$s o this and "any oth$r,"or$ particularly pathological, psych$ structur$s//$ntir$ly Busti i$s th$ int$rpr$tation oth$ "yth as a dr$a" o th$ "ass$s o th$ p$opl$, which ha'$ r$c$ntly shown

$ls$wh$r$. At th$ sa"$ ti"$, th$ trans $r$nc$ o th$ "$thod, and in part also o th$r$sults, o #r$ud%s t$chni u$ o dr$a" int$rpr$tation to th$ "yths would s$$" to b$ Busti iabl$, as was d$ $nd$d by Abraha", and illustrat$d in an $-a"pl$, in his pap$r on>Hr$a"s and 7yths.> n th$ circl$ o "yths that ollow, th$ inti"at$ r$lations b$tw$$ndr$a" and "yth ind urth$r con ir"ation, with r$ u$nt opportunity or r$asoning ro"analogy.

&h$ hostil$ attitud$ o th$ "ost "od$rn "ythological t$nd$ncy (chi$ ly r$pr$s$nt$d byth$ !oci$ty or +o"parati'$ 7ythological R$s$arch) against all att$"pts at $stablishinga r$lation b$tw$$n dr$a" and "yth is or th$ "ost part th$ outco"$ o th$ r$striction oth$ parall$li


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th$ study o psychological ph$no"$na. t is $'id$nt that hu"an b$ings, $'$n in th$$arli$st ti"$s, and with a "ost na '$ i"agination, n$'$r saw inc$st and parricid$ in th$ir"a"$nt on high, but it is ar "or$ probabl$ that th$s$ id$as ar$ d$ri'$d ro"anoth$r sourc$, pr$su"ably hu"an. n what way th$y ca"$ to r$ach th$ sky, and what"odi ications or additions th$y r$c$i'$d in th$ proc$ss, ar$ u$stions o a s$condary

charact$r that cannot p. 13

b$ s$ttl$d until th$ psychic origin o th$ "yths in g$n$ral has b$$n $stablish$d.

At any rat$, b$sid$s th$ astral conc$ption, th$ clai"s o th$ part play$d by th$ psychicli $ "ust b$ cr$dit$d with th$ sa"$ rights or "yth or"ation, and this argu"$nt will b$a"ply 'indicat$d by th$ r$sults o our "$thod o int$rpr$tation. 0ith this obB$ct in'i$w, w$ shall irst tak$ up in th$ ollowing pag$s th$ l$g$ndary "at$rial on which sucha psychological int$rpr$tation is to b$ att$"pt$d on a larg$ scal$ or th$ irst ti"$.

Footnotes

3=1 A short and airly co"pl$t$ r$'i$w o th$ g$n$ral th$ori$s o "ythology, and o th$ principal ad'ocat$s o $ach, is to b$ ound in 0ilh$l" 0undt= *+! er%sycho!ogie( $ip &ie yros age and *er#andtes ,> it/ungsberichte der Wiener ' ade"ie , o. 1(188 ), 5. 49:.

4=3 Pantschatantra (18:9).

4=4 Herodots &arste!!ung der 0yrussage ( r$slau, 189 ).

4=: +o"par$ 2. !trick$n= 'stra! Mythen ( $ip7os$s>? and . $ss"ann= > &ie yrossage in )uro%e,> Wissen. beit. /. Jahresberichtd. st(dt. ea!schu!e /u 0har!ottenburg (19 6).

:=1 aturgeschichte der age , 'ols. (7unich, 1864/:), tracing all r$ligious id$as,l$g$nds, and syst$"s back to th$ir co""on a"ily tr$$ and pri"ary root.

:= !o"$ o th$ i"portant writings by 0inckl$r will b$ "$ntion$d in th$ cours$ o thisarticl$.

:=3 3eitschrift f4r der Oesterr. 5y"nasiu" (1891), pp. 161 . !chub$rt%s r$ply is alsoound h$r$, pp. :94 .

:=4 >ObB$ct and Ai" o 7ythological R$s$arch,> Mytho!og. Bib!iot . ( $ip


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6=1 0undt, op. cit., 5art .

6= > &ie baby!onische 5eistes u!tur in ihren Be/iehungen /ur u!turent#ic !ung der Menschheit ,> Wissenschaft and Bi!dung , ;ol. I; (19 C), p. 4C.

6=3 O cours$ no ti"$ will b$ wast$d h$r$ on th$ util$ u$stion as to what th$ irstl$g$nd "ay ha'$ b$$n? in all probability this n$'$r $-ist$d, any "or$ than >th$ irsthu"an coupl$.>

C=1 rodb$ck= 3oroaster ( $ip 7ytholog. ibliot., ;ol. , o. 1 (19 8), 5. 48. +o"par$, or $-a"pl$,5aul Goch= agen der Bibe! and ihre bereinsti""ung "it der Mytho!ogie der $ndoger"anen ( $rlin, 19 C). +o"par$ also th$ partly lunar, partly solar, but at any rat$$ntir$ly on$/sid$d conc$ption o th$ h$ro "yth in usta' #ri$drich= 5rund!age, )ntstehung and genaue )in/e!deutung der be anntesten ger"anischen M(rchen, Mythen and agen ( $ip loc. cit. 2hr$nr$ich alon$ ( 5enera! Psycho!ogy, p. 149) ad"its th$ $-traordinarysigni icanc$ o dr$a"/li $ or th$ "yth/ iction o all ti"$s. 0undt do$s so lik$wis$, orindi'idual "ythological "oti s.

1 =1 !tuck$n (op. cit., p. 43 ) says in this s$ns$= &h$ "yth trans"itt$d by th$ anc$storswas trans $rr$d to natural proc$ss$s and int$rpr$t$d in a naturalistic way, not 'ic$ '$rsa.

> nt$rpr$tation o natur$ is a "oti'$ in its$l > (p. 636 n.). n a '$ry si"ilar way, 2duard7$y$r ( 5eschichte des '!tertu"s , 1884/19 , ;ol. ;. p. 48) has writt$n= > n "anycas$s, th$ natural sy"bolis", sought in th$ "yths, is only appar$ntly pr$s$nt or has

b$$n s$condarily introduc$d, as o t$n in th$ ;$das and in th$ 2gyptian "yths? it is a pri"ary att$"pt at int$rpr$tation, lik$ th$ "yth/int$rpr$tations that aros$ a"ong th$

r$$ks as $arly as th$ i th c$ntury.>

1 = Op. cit., p. 1 4.

1 =3 Op. cit., p. 8 .
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1 =4 #or airy tal$s, in this as w$ll as in oth$r $ss$ntial $atur$s, &hi""$ ad'ocat$s th$sa"$ point o 'i$w as is h$r$ clai"$d or th$ "yths. +o"par$ Adol &hi""$= Has7Jrch$n, ;ol. o Handb4cher /ur *o! s unde ( $ip


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as his own son, Akki th$ wat$r carri$r "ad$ o "$ his gard$n$r. n "y work as agard$n$r was b$lo'$d by shtar, b$ca"$ th$ king, and or orty/ i'$ y$ars h$ld kingly sway. 1

Footnotes

14=1 Att$ntion has b$$n drawn to th$ gr$at 'ariability and wid$ distribution o th$ birth"yths o th$ h$ro by th$ writings o au$r, !chub$rt, and oth$rs r$ $rr$d to in th$

pr$c$ding pag$s. &h$ co"pr$h$nsi'$ cont$nts o th$ "yths and th$ir in$ ra"i icationsha'$ b$$n $sp$cially discuss$d by Fsing, $ss"ann, and oth$r r$pr$s$ntati'$s o th$"od$rn tr$nd.

14= nnu"$rabl$ airy tal$s, stori$s, and po$"s o all ti"$s, up to th$ "ost r$c$ntdra"atic and no'$listic lit$ratur$, show '$ry distinct indi'idual "ain "oti s o this"yth. &h$ $-posur$/ro"anc$ app$ars in th$ lat$ r$$k pastorals// $liodorus% 'ethio%ica, 2ustathius% $s"enias and $s"ene, and ongus% story o th$ two $-pos$dchildr$n, Haphnis and +hlo$. &h$ "or$ r$c$nt talian pastorals ar$ lik$wis$ '$ryr$ u$ntly bas$d upon th$ $-posur$ o childr$n, who ar$ rais$d as sh$ph$rds by p. 1: th$irost$r par$nts, but ar$ lat$r r$cogni


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child%s "oth$r. And 5haraoh%s daught$r said unto h$r, &ak$ this child away, andnurs$ it or "$, and will gi'$ th$$ thy wag$s. And th$ wo"an took th$ child,and nurs$d it. And th$ child gr$w, and sh$ brought hi" unto 5haraoh%s daught$r,and h$ b$ca"$ h$r son. And sh$ call$d his na"$ 7os$s= and sh$ said, $caus$ dr$w hi" out o th$ wat$r.

p. 1C

&his account is orna"$nt$d by rabbinical "ythology with an account o th$ $'$nts pr$c$ding 7os$s% birth. n th$ si-ti$th y$ar a t$r *os$ph%s d$ath, th$ r$igning 5haraohsaw in a dr$a" an old "an who h$ld a pair o scal$s? all th$ inhabitants o 2gypt lay onon$ sid$, with only a suckling a"b on th$ oth$r, but n$'$rth$l$ss this outw$igh$d allth$ 2gyptians. &h$ startl$d king at onc$ consult$d th$ wis$ "$n and astrolog$rs, whod$clar$d th$ dr$a" to "$an that a son would b$ born to th$ sra$lit$s who wouldd$stroy all 2gypt. &h$ king was right$n$d, and at onc$ ord$r$d th$ d$ath o all n$wbornchildr$n o th$ sra$lit$s in th$ $ntir$ country. On account o this tyrannical ord$r, th$

$'it$ A"ra", who li'$d in osh$n, d$cid$d to s$parat$ ro" his wi $ *och$b$d, so asnot to or$doo" to c$rtain d$ath th$ childr$n conc$i'$d through hi". ut this r$solutionwas oppos$d lat$r on by his daught$r 7iria", who or$told with proph$tic assuranc$that pr$cis$ly th$ child sugg$st$d in th$ king%s dr$a" would co"$ orth ro" h$r"oth$r%s wo"b, and would b$co"$ th$ lib$rator o his p$opl$. 1

A"ra" th$r$ or$ r$Boin$d his wi $, ro" who" h$ had b$$n s$parat$d or thr$$ y$ars.At th$ $nd o thr$$ "onths, sh$ conc$i'$d, and lat$r on bor$ a boy at whos$ birth th$$ntir$ hous$ was illu"inat$d by an $-traordinary lu"inous radianc$, sugg$sting th$truth o th$ proph$cy.

!i"ilar accounts ar$ gi'$n o th$ birth o th$ anc$stor o th$ $br$w nation, Abraha".$ was a son o &$rah// i"rod%s captain//and A"t$lai. 5rior to his birth, it was

r$'$al$d to Ging i"rod ro" th$ stars that th$ co"ing child would o'$rthrow th$thron$s o pow$r ul princ$s and tak$ poss$ssion o th$ir lands. Ging i"rod plann$d toha'$ th$ child kill$d i""$diat$ly a t$r its birth. ut wh$n th$ boy was r$ u$st$d ro"&$rah, h$ said, >&ruly a son was born to "$, but h$ has di$d.> $ th$n d$li'$r$d astrang$ child, conc$aling his own son in a ca'$ und$rn$ath th$ ground, wh$r$ od

p$r"itt$d hi" to suck "ilk ro" a ing$r o th$ right hand. n this ca'$, Abraha" is

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said to ha'$ r$"ain$d until th$ third (according to oth$rs th$ t$nth) y$ar o his li $. 1

n th$ n$-t g$n$ration, in th$ story o saac, th$ sa"$ "ythological "oti s app$ar. 5riorto his birth, Ging Abi"$l$ch is warn$d by a drea" not to touch !arah, as this wouldcaus$ wo$ to b$tid$ hi". A t$r a long p$riod o barr$nn$ss, sh$ inally b$ars h$r son,who (in lat$r li $, in this r$port) a t$r ha'ing b$$n d$stin$d to b$ sacrificed by his o#n father , Abraha", is ulti"at$ly r$scu$d by od. ut Abraha" casts out his $ld$r son

sh"a$l, with agar, th$ boy%s "oth$r.
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Footnotes

1:=1 &h$ 'arious translations o th$ partly "utilat$d t$-t di $r only in un$ss$ntiald$tails. +o"par$ o""$l= History of Baby!onia and 'ssyria ( $rlin, 188:), p. 3 ,wh$r$ th$ sourc$s o th$ tradition ar$ lik$wis$ ound? and A. *$r$"ias= The O!dTesta"ent in the 9ight of the 'ncient Orient , ad $d. ( $ip. . . and 7iria" th$ir sist$r.> Also co"par$0inckl$r= History of $srae! , ;ol. ? and *$r$"ias, op. cit., p. 4 8.

16= &h$ na"$, according to 0inckl$r (> &ie baby!onische 5eistes u!tur . . .> loc. cit., p.119), "$ans >&h$ 0at$r/Hraw$r> (s$$ also 0inckl$r= 'ncient Orienta! tudies , ;ol. ,

pp. 468 .)//which would still urth$r approach th$ 7os$s l$g$nd to th$ !argon l$g$nd,or th$ na"$ Akki signi i$s > ha'$ drawn wat$r.>

1C=1 !ch$"ot Rabba .4 says conc$rning 2-odus 1. that 5haraoh was told by th$astrolog$rs o a wo"an who was pr$gnant with th$ R$d$$"$r o sra$l.

1C= A t$r $rg$l= Mytho!ogy of the Hebre#s ( $ip&h$n "y nurs$ and "ad$ a larg$ bask$t o rush$s, plac$d a lid th$r$on, and lin$d itwith wa-? into this bask$t laid th$ boy and carri$d hi" down to th$ ri'$r Ac'a.>#loating on th$ wa'$s, th$ bask$t r$ach$s th$ ri'$r

p. 19

Dparagraph continu$sE ang$s and tra'$ls as ar as th$ city o +a"pa. >&h$r$ was passing alongth$ bank o th$ ri'$r, th$ chariot$$r, th$ nobl$ ri$nd o Hhritarashtra, and with hi" wasRadha, his b$auti ul and pious spous$. !h$ was wrapt in d$$p sorrow, b$caus$ no sonhad b$$n gi'$n to h$r. On th$ ri'$r sh$ saw th$ bask$t, which th$ wa'$s carri$d clos$ to

h$r on th$ shor$? sh$ show$d it to A


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Gunti lat$r on "arri$s Ging 5andu, who is orc$d to r$ rain ro" conBugal int$rcours$ by th$ curs$ that h$ is to di$ in th$ ar"s o his spous$. ut Gunti b$ars thr$$ sons, againthrough di'in$ conc$ption, on$ o th$ childr$n b$ing born in th$ ca'$ o a wol . On$ day5andu di$s in th$ $"brac$ o his s$cond wi $. &h$ sons grow up, and at a tourna"$ntwhich th$y arrang$, Garna app$ars to "$asur$ his str$ngth against th$ b$st ight$r,

ArBuna, th$ son o Gunti. ArBuna sco ingly r$ us$s to ight th$ chariot$$r%s son. n ord$rto "ak$ hi" a worthy oppon$nt, on$ o thos$ pr$s$nt anoints hi" as king. 7$anwhil$Gunti has r$cogni


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with hon$y, inally th$ acknowl$dg"$nt by th$ ath$r. !$$ *Flg= Mongo!ische M(rche( nnsbruck, 1868), 55. C3 .

18=4 $ndische '!teru"s unde (Garlsruh$, 1846).

19=1 +o"par$ th$ d$tail$d account in $ "ann= History of 'ncient $ndia ( $rlin, 189 ), pp. 181 .

19= !$$ RKsch$r, conc$rning th$ $on o 2uripid$s. 0h$r$ no oth$r sourc$ is stat$d, allr$$k and Ro"an "yths ar$ tak$n ro" th$ 'usf4hr!iches 9e7i on der griechischenand r+"ischen Mytho!ogie, $dit$d by 0. . RKsch$r, which also contains a list o allsourc$s.

OE"IP8-

&h$ par$nts o O$dipus, Ging aius and his u$$n, *ocasta, li'$d or a long ti"$ inchildl$ss w$dlock. aius, who longs or an h$ir, asks th$ H$lphic Apollo or ad'ic$. &h$oracl$ answ$rs that h$ "ay ha'$ a son i h$ so d$sir$s? but at$ has ordain$d that hisown son will kill hi". #$aring th$ ul ill"$nt o th$ oracl$, aius r$ rains ro" conBugalr$lations, but b$ing into-icat$d on$ day h$ n$'$rth$l$ss procr$at$s a son, who" h$caus$s to b$ $-pos$d in th$ ri'$r +itha$ron, bar$ly thr$$ days a t$r his birth. n ord$r to

b$ uit$ sur$ that th$ child will p$rish, aius ord$rs his ankl$s to b$ pi$rc$d. Accordingto th$ account o !ophocl$s, which is not th$ old$st, how$'$r, th$ sh$ph$rd who has

b$$n intrust$d with th$ $-posur$, surr$nd$rs th$ boy to a sh$ph$rd o Ging 5olybus, o+orinth, at whos$ court h$ is brought up, according to th$ uni'$rsal stat$"$nt. Oth$rssay that th$ boy was $-pos$d in a bo- on th$ s$a, and was

p. 1

tak$n ro" th$ wat$r by 5$ribKa, th$ wi $ o Ging 5olybus, as sh$ was rinsing h$rcloth$s by th$ shor$. 1 5olybus brought hi" up as his own son.

O$dipus, on h$aring accid$ntally that h$ is a oundling, asks th$ H$lphian oracl$ abouthis tru$ par$nts, but r$c$i'$s only th$ proph$cy that h$ will kill his ath$r and "arry his"oth$r. n th$ b$li$ that this proph$cy r$ $rs to his ost$r par$nts, h$ l$$s ro" +orinthto &h$b$s, but on th$ way unwittingly kills his ath$r aius. y sol'ing a riddl$, h$ r$$sth$ city ro" th$ plagu$ o th$ !phin-, a "an/d$'ouring "onst$r, and in r$ward is gi'$nth$ hand o *ocasta, his "oth$r, as w$ll as th$ thron$ o his ath$r. &h$ r$'$lation oth$s$ horrors and th$ subs$ u$nt "is ortun$ o O$dipus w$r$ a a'orit$ subB$ct orsp$ctacular display a"ong th$ r$$k trag$dians.

An $ntir$ s$ri$s o +hristian l$g$nds ha'$ b$$n $laborat$d on th$ patt$rn o th$ O$dipus"yth, and th$ su""ari


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knowing that h$ is his ath$r. &h$ widow o th$ "urd$r$d "an//his own "oth$r//th$n b$co"$s his wi $. A t$r th$ r$'$lation o th$s$ horrors, h$ r$p$nts and s$$ks

p.

th$ !a'iour, who r$c$i'$s hi" a"ong his apostl$s. is b$trayal o *$sus is known ro"th$ osp$ls.

&h$ l$g$nd o !t. r$gory on th$ !ton$//th$ subB$ct o th$ narrati'$ o art"ann 'onAu$//r$pr$s$nts a "or$ co"plicat$d typ$ o this "ythological cycl$. r$gory, th$ childo th$ inc$stuous union o royal lo'$rs, is $-pos$d by his "oth$r in a bo- on th$ s$a,sa'$d and rais$d by ish$r"$n, and is th$n $ducat$d in a con'$nt or th$ church. ut h$

pr$ $rs th$ li $ o a knight, is 'ictorious in co"bats, and in r$ward is gi'$n th$ hand oth$ princ$ss, his "oth$r. A t$r th$ disco'$ry o th$ inc$st, r$gory do$s p$nanc$ ors$'$nt$$n y$ars on a rock in th$ "idst o th$ s$a, and h$ is inally "ad$ th$ 5op$, at th$co""and o od. 1

A '$ry si"ilar l$g$nd is th$ 5$rsian $pic o Ging Harab, told by th$ po$t #irdausi. &h$last Giranian $h"$n no"inat$d as his succ$ssor his daught$r and si"ultan$ous wi $u"Li? his son !LsLn was gri$'$d and withdr$w into solitud$. A short ti"$ a t$r th$d$ath o h$r husband, u"Li ga'$ birth to a son, who" sh$ r$sol'$d to $-pos$. $ was

plac$d in a bo-, which was put into th$ 2uphrat$s and dri t$d downstr$a", until it wasstopp$d by a ston$ that had b$$n plac$d in th$ wat$r by a tann$r. &h$ bo- with th$ childwas ound by hi", and h$ carri$d th$ boy to his wi $, who had r$c$ntly lost h$r ownchild. &h$ coupl$ agr$$d to rais$ th$ oundling. As th$ boy gr$w up, h$ soon b$ca"$ sostrong that th$ oth$r childr$n w$r$ unabl$ to r$sist hi". $ did not car$ or th$ work ohis ost$r ath$r, but l$arn$d to b$ a warrior. is ost$r "oth$r was orc$d by hi" tor$'$al th$ s$cr$t o his origin, and h$ Boin$d th$ ar"y that u"Li was th$n s$nding outto ight th$ king o Ri". $r att$ntion b$ing call$d to hi" by his bra'$ry, u"Li r$adilyr$cogni&h$ ook o Gings>), as r$nd$r$d by #. !pi$g$l= )ranische '!teru"s unde , ;ol. , p. :84.

p. 3

PARI-

&h$ a"$d r$$k l$g$nd o th$ birth o 5aris r$lat$s that Ging 5ria" o &roy had withhis wi $ $cuba a son, na"$d $ctor. 0h$n $cuba was about to b$ar anoth$r child, she drea"ed that sh$ brought orth a burning log o wood, which s$t ir$ to th$ $ntir$city. 5ria" ask$d th$ ad'ic$ o Aisakos, who was his son with his irst wi $, Arisb$, and
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an $-p$rt in th$ int$rpr$tation o dr$a"s. Aisakos d$clar$d that th$ child would bringtroubl$ upon th$ city, and ad'is$d that it b$ $-pos$d. 5ria" ga'$ th$ littl$ boy to asla'$, Ag$laos, who carri$d hi" to th$ top o 7ount da. The chi!d #as nursed during fi8e days by a she-bear . 0h$n Ag$laos ound that h$ was still ali'$, h$ pick$d hi" up,and carri$d hi" ho"$ to rais$ hi". $ na"$d th$ boy 5aris? but a t$r th$ child had

grown into a strong and handso"$ youth, h$ was call$d Al$-and$r, b$caus$ h$ oughtth$ robb$rs and prot$ct$d th$ locks. $ or$ long h$ disco'$r$d his par$nts. ow thisca"$ about is told by yginus, according to whos$ r$port th$ in ant is found by she%herds. On$ day "$ss$ng$rs, s$nt by 5ria", co"$ to th$s$ h$rd$rs to $tch a bullwhich is to s$r'$ as th$ pri


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According to anoth$r '$rsion, Aug$ s$cr$tly brought orth as a pri$st$ss, but k$pt th$child hidd$n in th$ t$"pl$. 0h$n Al$os disco'$r$d th$ sacril$g$, h$ caus$d th$ child to

b$ $-pos$d in th$ 5arth$nian "ountains. auplius was instruct$d to s$ll th$ "oth$r inor$ign lands, or to

p. :

kill h$r. !h$ was d$li'$r$d by hi" into th$ hands o &$uthras 1

According to th$ curr$nt tradition, Aug$ e7%oses the ne#born chi!d and $scap$s to7ysia, wh$r$ th$ childl$ss Ging &$uthras adopts h$r as his daught$r. &h$ boy, how$'$r,is nurs$d by a do$, and is ound by sh$ph$rds who tak$ hi" to Ging +orythos. &h$ king

brings hi" up as his son. 0h$n &$l$phus has grown into a youth, h$ b$tak$s hi"s$l to7ysia, on th$ ad'ic$ o th$ oracl$, to s$$k his "oth$r. $ r$$s &$uthras, who is indang$r ro" his $n$"i$s, and in r$ward r$c$i'$s th$ hand o th$ suppos$d daught$r oth$ king, na"$ly his own "oth$r Aug$. ut sh$ r$ us$s to sub"it to &$l$phus, and

wh$n h$ in his ir$ is about to pi$rc$ th$ disob$di$nt on$ with his sword, sh$ calls on h$rlo'$r $rcul$s in h$r distr$ss, and &$l$phus thus r$cogni


18/67

$nd o th$ 7ysian ri'$r Gaikos. &h$r$ it was ound by &$uthras who "ad$ Aug$ hiswi $ and took h$r child into his hous$ as his ost$r son.

:= at$r authors, including 5indar, stat$ that HanaN was i"pr$gnat$d, not by M$us, but by th$ broth$r o h$r ath$r.

,IL,AME-H

A$lian, who li'$d about A.H., r$lat$s in his >Ani"al !tori$s> th$ history o a boy#ho #as sa8ed by an eag!e>

Ani"als ha'$ a charact$ristic ondn$ss or "an. An $agl$ is known to ha'$nourish$d a child. shall t$ll th$ $ntir$ story, in proo o "y ass$rtion. 0h$n!$n$choros r$ign$d o'$r th$ abylonians, th$ +hald$an ortun$t$ll$rs or$toldthat th$ son o th$ king%s daught$r would tak$ th$ kingdo" ro" his grand ath$r?this '$rdict was a proph$cy o th$ +hald$ans. &h$ king was a raid o this

proph$cy, and hu"orously sp$aking, h$ b$ca"$ a s$cond Acrisius or hisdaught$r, o'$r who" h$ watch$d with th$ gr$at$st s$'$rity. ut his daught$r,at$ b$ing wis$r than th$ abylonian,

p. C

conc$i'$d s$cr$tly ro" an inconspicuous "an. #or $ar o th$ king, th$guardians thr$w th$ child down ro" th$ acropolis, wh$r$ th$ royal daught$rwas i"prison$d. &h$ $agl$, with his k$$n $y$s, saw th$ boy%s all, and b$ or$ th$child struck th$ $arth, h$ caught it on his back, bor$ it into a gard$n, and s$t itdown with gr$at car$. 0h$n th$ o'$rs$$r o th$ plac$ saw th$ b$auti ul boy, h$was pl$as$d with hi" and rais$d hi". &h$ boy r$c$i'$d th$ na"$ ilga"$sh,and b$ca"$ th$ king o abylonia. anyon$ r$gards this as a abl$, ha'$nothing to say, although ha'$ in'$stigat$d th$ "att$r to th$ b$st o "y ability.Also o Acha$"$n$s, th$ 5$rsian, ro" who" th$ nobility o th$ 5$rsians isd$ri'$d, l$arn that h$ was th$ pupil o an $agl$. 1

Footnotes

6=1 !i"onid$s o +$os sp$aks o a cas$"$nt strong as or$, in which HanaN is said toha'$ b$$n $-pos$d. $ib$l= !assisches 9iederbuch, p. : .

6= According to Fsing, th$ 5$rs$us "yth in s$'$ral '$rsions is also d$"onstrabl$ in*apan. +o"par$ also !ydn$y artland= 9egend of Perseus, 3 'ols. ( ondon, 1894/6).

2YR8-

&h$ "yth o +yrus th$ r$at, which th$ "aBority o in'$stigators plac$ in th$ c$nt$r othis $ntir$ "ythical circl$//without $ntir$ly su ici$nt grounds, it would app$ar//has

b$$n trans"itt$d to us in s$'$ral '$rsions. According to th$ r$port o $rodotus (about4: .+.), who stat$s that a"ong our r$nd$rings known to hi", h$ s$l$ct$d th$ l$ast>glori ying> '$rsion, th$ story o th$ birth and youth o +yrus is as ollows=
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Royal sway o'$r th$ 7$d$s was h$ld, a t$r +ya-ar$s, by his son Astyag$s, whohad a daught$r na"$d 7andan$. Onc$ h$ saw, in a dr$a", so "uch wat$r

passing ro" h$r as to ill an $ntir$ city and inundat$ all Asia. $ r$lat$d hisdr$a" to th$ dr$a" int$rpr$t$rs a"ong th$ "agicians, and was in gr$at

p. 8

$ar a t$r th$y had $-plain$d it all to hi". 0h$n 7andan$ had grown up, h$ga'$ h$r in "arriag$, not to a 7$d$, his $ ual in birth, but to a 5$rsian, by na"$o +a"bys$s. &his "an ca"$ o a good a"ily and l$d a ui$t li $. &h$ kingconsid$r$d hi" o low$r rank than a "iddl$/class 7$d$. A t$r 7andan$ had

b$co"$ th$ wi $ o +a"bys$s, Astyag$s saw anoth$r dr$a"/'ision in th$ irsty$ar. $ dr$a"$d that a 'in$ gr$w ro" his daught$r%s lap, and this 'in$o'$rshadow$d all Asia. A t$r h$ had again r$lat$d this 'ision to th$ dr$a"int$rpr$t$rs, h$ s$nt or his daught$r, who was with child, and a t$r h$r arri'alro" 5$rsia, h$ watch$d h$r, b$caus$ h$ "$ant to kill h$r o spring. #or th$

dr$a" int$rpr$t$rs a"ong th$ "agicians had proph$si$d to hi" that hisdaught$r%s son would b$co"$ king in his plac$. n ord$r to a'$rt this at$, h$wait$d until +yrus was born, and th$n s$nt or arpagos, who was his r$lati'$and his gr$at$st con idant a"ong th$ 7$d$s, and who" h$ had plac$d o'$r allhis a airs. i" h$ addr$ss$d as ollows= >7y d$ar arpagos, shall charg$ th$$with an $rrand which thou "ust consci$ntiously p$r or". ut do not d$c$i'$ "$,and l$t no oth$r "an att$nd to it, or all "ight not go w$ll with th$$. &ak$ this

boy, who" 7andan$ has brought orth, carry hi" ho"$, and kill hi".A t$rwards thou canst bury hi", how and in whatso$'$r "ann$r thou d$sir$st.>ut arpagos "ad$ answ$r= > r$at Ging, n$'$r hast thou ound thy s$r'ant

disob$di$nt, and also in utur$ shall b$war$ not to sin b$ or$ th$$. such is thy

will, it b$hoo'$s "$ to carry it out aith ully.> 0h$n arpagos had thus spok$n,and th$ littl$ boy with all his orna"$nts had b$$n d$li'$r$d into his hands, ord$ath, h$ w$nt ho"$ w$$ping. On his arri'al h$ told his wi $ all that Astyag$shad said to hi". ut sh$ in uir$d, >0hat art thou about to do@> $ "ad$ r$ply=> shall not ob$y Astyag$s, $'$n i h$ ra'$d and stor"$d t$n ti"$s wors$ than h$is doing. shall not do as h$ wills, and cons$nt to such a "urd$r. ha'$ anu"b$r o r$asons= in th$ irst plac$, th$ boy is

p. 9

"y blood r$lati'$? th$n, Astyag$s is old, and h$ has no "al$ h$ir. !hould h$ di$,

and th$ kingdo" go to his daught$r, whos$ son h$ bids "$ kill at pr$s$nt, would not run th$ gr$at$st dang$r@ ut th$ boy "ust di$, or th$ sak$ o "y sa $ty.ow$'$r, on$ o Astyag$s% "$n is to b$ his "urd$r$r, not on$ o "in$.>

a'ing thus spok$n, h$ at onc$ d$spatch$d a "$ss$ng$r to on$ o th$ king%scattl$ h$rd$rs, by na"$ 7ithradat$s, who, as h$ happ$n$d to know, was k$$pinghis h$rd in a '$ry suitabl$ "ountain pasturag$, ull o wild ani"als. &h$ h$rd$r%swi $ was also a sla'$ o Astyag$s , by na"$ +yno in r$$k, or !pako (>a bitch>)in th$ 7$dian languag$. 0h$n th$ h$rd$r hurri$dly arri'$d, on th$ co""and oarpagos, th$ latt$r said to hi"= >Astyag$s bids th$$ tak$ this boy and $-pos$hi" in th$ wild$st "ountains, that h$ "ay p$rish as pro"ptly as "ay b$, and th$Ging has ord$r$d "$ to say to th$$= thou do$st not kill th$ boy, but l$t hi"li'$, in what$'$r way, thou art to di$ a "ost disgrac$ ul d$ath. And a" charg$d


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to s$$ to it that th$ boy is r$ally $-pos$d.> 0h$n th$ h$rd$r had list$n$d to this,h$ took th$ boy, w$nt ho"$, and arri'$d in his cottag$. is wi $ was with child,and was in labor th$ $ntir$ day, and it happ$n$d that sh$ was Bust bringing orth,wh$n th$ h$rd$r had gon$ to th$ city. &h$y w$r$ gr$atly worri$d about $achoth$r. ut wh$n h$ had r$turn$d and th$ wo"an saw hi" again so un$-p$ct$dly,

sh$ ask$d in th$ irst plac$ why arpagos had s$nt or hi" so hurri$dly. ut h$said= >7y d$ar wi $, would that had n$'$r s$$n what ha'$ s$$n and h$ard inth$ city, and what has happ$n$d to our "ast$rs. &h$ hous$ o arpagos was ullo cri$s and la"$nts. &his startl$d "$, but $nt$r$d, and soon a t$r had $nt$r$d, saw a s"all boy lying b$ or$ "$, who struggl$d and cri$d and was dr$ss$d inin$ gar"$nts and gold. 0h$n arpagos saw "$, h$ bid "$ uickly tak$ th$

boy, and $-pos$ hi" in th$ wild$st spot o th$ "ountains. $ said Astyag$s hadord$r$d this, and add$d aw ul thr$ats i ail$d to do so. took th$ child andw$nt away with it, thinking

p. 3

that it b$long$d to on$ o th$ s$r'ants, or it did not occur to "$ wh$nc$ it hadco"$. ut on th$ way, l$arn$d th$ $ntir$ story ro" th$ s$r'ant who l$d "$ro" th$ city, and plac$d th$ boy in "y hands. $ is th$ son o 7andan$,

daught$r o Astyag$s, and +a"bys$s, th$ son o +yrus? and Astyag$s hasord$r$d his d$ath. $hold, h$r$ is th$ boy.>

a'ing thus spok$n, th$ h$rd$r unco'$r$d th$ child and show$d it to h$r, andwh$n th$ wo"an saw that h$ was a in$ strong child, sh$ w$pt, and $ll at h$rhusband%s $$t, and i"plor$d hi" not to $-pos$ it. ut h$ said h$ could not dooth$rwis$, or arpagos would s$nd s$r'ants to s$$ i this had b$$n don$? h$

would ha'$ to di$ a disgrac$ ul d$ath unl$ss h$ did so. &h$n sh$ said again= > ha'$ ail$d to "o'$ th$$, do as ollows, so that th$y "ay s$$ an $-pos$d child= ha'$ brought orth a d$ad child? tak$ it and $-pos$ it, but th$ son o th$ daught$ro Astyag$s w$ will rais$ as our own child. n this way, thou wilt not b$ ound adisob$di$nt s$r'ant, nor will w$ ar$ ill ours$l'$s. Our stillborn child will b$gi'$n a kingly burial, and th$ li'ing child%s li $ will b$ pr$s$r'$d.> &h$ h$rd$rdid as his wi $ had b$gg$d and ad'is$d hi" to do. $ plac$d his own d$ad boyin a bask$t, dr$ss$d hi" in all th$ in$ry o th$ oth$r, and $-pos$d hi" on th$"ost d$s$rt "ountain. &hr$$ days lat$r h$ announc$d to arpagos that h$ wasnow $nabl$d to show th$ boy%s cada'$r. arpagos s$nt his "ost aith ul bodyguardians, and ord$r$d th$ burial o th$ cattl$ h$rd$r%s son. &h$ oth$r boy,how$'$r, who was known lat$r on as +yrus, was brought up by th$ h$rd$r%swi $. &h$y did not call hi" +yrus, but ga'$ hi" anoth$r na"$.

0h$n th$ boy was tw$l'$ y$ars old th$ truth was r$'$al$d, through th$ollowing accid$nt. $ was playing on th$ road, with oth$r boys o his own ag$,in th$ 'illag$ wh$r$ th$ cattl$ w$r$ k$pt. &h$ boys play$d >Ging,> and $l$ct$dth$ suppos$d son o th$ cattl$ h$rd$r. 1 ut h$ co""and$d so"$ to build

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hous$s, oth$rs to carry lanc$s? on$ h$ "ad$ th$ king%s watch"an, th$ oth$r wascharg$d with th$ b$aring o "$ssag$s? bri$ ly, $ach r$c$i'$d his appoint$d task.On$ o th$ boy%s play"at$s, how$'$r, was th$ son o Art$"bar$s, a r$sp$ct$d
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"an a"ong th$ 7$d$s, and wh$n h$ did not do as +yrus ordain$d, th$ latt$r"ad$ th$ oth$r boys s$i and h$ show$d hi" his own son%s should$rs. 0h$n Astyag$s h$ardand saw this, h$ wish$d to 'indicat$ th$ boy or th$ sak$ o Art$"bar$s, and h$s$nt or th$ cattl$ h$rd$r with his son. 0h$n both w$r$ pr$s$nt, Astyag$s look$dat +yrus and said= >&hou, a lowly "an%s son, hast had th$ $ ront$ry to tr$at sodisgrac$ ully th$ son o a "an who" gr$atly honorP> ut h$ "ad$ answ$r=> ord, h$ has only r$c$i'$d his du$. #or th$ boys in th$ 'illag$, h$ b$ing a"ongth$", w$r$ at play, and "ad$ "$ th$ir king, b$li$'ing "$ to b$ th$ b$st adapt$dth$r$to. And th$ oth$r boys did as th$y w$r$ told, but h$ was disob$di$nt, anddid not "ind "$ at all. #or this h$ has r$c$i'$d his r$ward. ha'$ d$s$r'$d

punish"$nt, h$r$ a" at your s$r'ic$.> 0h$n th$ boy spok$ in this way,Astyag$s kn$w

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hi" at onc$. #or th$ $atur$s o th$ ac$ app$ar$d to hi" as his own, and th$answ$r was that o a highborn youth? urth$r"or$, it s$$"$d to hi" that th$ ti"$o th$ $-posur$ agr$$d with th$ boy%s ag$. &his s"ot$ his h$art, and h$ r$"ain$dsp$$chl$ss or a whil$. ardly had h$ r$gain$d control o'$r hi"s$l , wh$n h$spok$ to g$t rid o Art$"bar$s, so as to b$ abl$ to u$stion th$ cattl$ h$rd$r

without witn$ss$s. >7y d$ar Art$"bar$s,> h$ said, > shall tak$ car$ that n$ith$rthou nor thy son shall ha'$ caus$ or co"plaint.> &hus h$ dis"iss$d Art$"bar$s.+yrus, how$'$r, was l$d into th$ palac$ by th$ s$r'ants, on th$ co""and oAstyag$s, and th$ cattl$ h$rd$r bad to stay b$hind. 0h$n h$ was all alon$ withhi", Astyag$s u$stion$d hi" wh$nc$ h$ had obtain$d th$ boy, and who hadgi'$n th$ child into his hands. ut th$ h$rd$r said that h$ was his own son, andthat th$ wo"an who had born$ hi" was li'ing with hi". Astyag$s r$"ark$d thath$ was '$ry unwis$, to look out or "ost cru$l tortur$s, and h$ b$ckon$d th$sword/b$ar$rs to tak$ hold o hi". As h$ was b$ing l$d to tortur$, th$ h$rd$rcon $ss$d th$ whol$ story, ro" b$ginning to $nd, th$ $ntir$ truth, inally

b$ginning to b$g and i"plor$ orgi'$n$ss and pardon. 7$anwhil$ Astyag$s wasnot so inc$ns$d against th$ h$rd$r, who had r$'$al$d to hi" th$ truth, as againstarpagos? h$ ord$r$d th$ sword/b$ar$rs to su""on hi", and wh$n arpagosstood b$ or$ hi", Astyag$s ask$d hi" as ollows= >7y d$ar arpagos, in whatashion hast thou tak$n th$ li $ o "y daught$r%s son, who" onc$ d$li'$r$do'$r to th$$@> !$$ing th$ cattl$ h$rd$r standing n$ar, arpagos did not r$sort tountruth uln$ss, or $ar that h$ would b$ r$ ut$d at onc$, and so h$ proc$$d$d tot$ll th$ truth. Astyag$s conc$al$d th$ ang$r which h$ had arous$d in hi", andirst told hi" what h$ had l$arn$d ro" th$ h$rd$r? th$n h$ "$ntion$d that th$

boy was still li'ing, and that $'$rything had turn$d out all right. $ said that h$had gr$atly r$gr$tt$d what h$ had don$ to th$ child, and that his daught$r%sr$proach$s had pi$rc$d

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his soul. > ut as $'$rything has $nd$d so w$ll, s$nd thy son to gr$$t th$n$wco"$r, and th$n co"$ to $at with "$, or a" r$ady to pr$par$ A $ast inhonor o th$ ods who ha'$ brought all this about.>

0h$n arpagos h$ard this, h$ prostrat$d hi"s$l on th$ ground b$ or$ th$ king,

and prais$d hi"s$l or his $rror ha'ing turn$d out w$ll, and or b$ing in'it$d toth$ king%s tabl$, in co""$"oration o a happy $'$nt. !o h$ w$nt ho"$, andwh$n h$ arri'$d th$r$, h$ at onc$ s$nt o his only son, a boy o about thirt$$ny$ars, t$lling hi" to go to Astyag$s, and to do as h$ was bid. &h$n arpagos

Boy ully told his wi $ what had b$ all$n hi". ut Astyag$s butch$r$d th$ son oarpagos wh$n h$ ca"$, cut hi" to pi$c$s, and roast$d th$ l$sh in part? anoth$r

portion o th$ l$sh was cook$d, and wh$n $'$rything was pr$par$d h$ k$pt it inr$adin$ss. 0h$n th$ hour o th$ "$al had co"$, arpagos and th$ oth$r gu$stsarri'$d. A tabl$ with sh$$p%s "$at was arrang$d in ront o Astyag$s and th$oth$rs, but arpagos was s$r'$d with his own son%s l$sh, without th$ h$ad, andwithout th$ chop/pings o hands and $$t, but with $'$rything $ls$. &h$s$ partsw$r$ k$pt hidd$n in a bask$t. 0h$n arpagos s$$"$d to ha'$ tak$n his ill,Astyag$s ask$d hi" i th$ "$at had tast$d good to hi", and wh$n arpagosansw$r$d that h$ had $nBoy$d it, th$ s$r'ants, who had b$$n ord$r$d to do so,

brought in his own son%s co'$r$d h$ad, with th$ hands and $$t, st$pp$d up toarpagos, and told hi" to unco'$r and tak$ what h$ d$sir$d. arpagos did so,unco'$r$d th$ bask$t, and saw th$ r$"nants o his son. 0h$n h$ saw this, h$ didnot gi'$ way to his horror, but controll$d hi"s$l . Astyag$s th$n ask$d hi" i h$kn$w o what ga"$ h$ had $at$n? and h$ r$pli$d that h$ kn$w it '$ry w$ll, andthat what$'$r th$ king did was w$ll don$. &hus h$ spok$, took th$ l$sh thatr$"ain$d, and w$nt ho"$ with it, wh$r$ h$ probably "$ant to bury it tog$th$r.

&his was th$ r$'$ng$ o Astyag$s upon arpagos. +onc$rning +yrus, h$ tookcouns$l, and su""on$d

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th$ sa"$ "agicians who had $-plain$d his dr$a", th$n h$ ask$d th$" how th$yhad at on$ ti"$ int$rpr$t$d his 'ision in a dr$a". ut th$y said that th$ boy "ust

b$co"$ a king, i h$ r$"ain$d ali'$, and did not di$ pr$"atur$ly. Astyag$s"ad$ r$ply= >&h$ boy is ali'$, and is h$r$, and as h$ was staying in th$ country,th$ boys o th$ 'illag$ $l$ct$d hi" or th$ir king. ut h$ did $'$rything lik$ th$r$al kings, or h$ ordain$d to hi"s$l as th$ "ast$r, sword/b$ar$rs, gat$k$$p$rs,"$ss$ng$rs, and $'$rything. ow do you "$an to int$rpr$t this@> &h$ "agicians"ad$ r$ply= > th$ boy is ali'$, and has b$$n "ad$ king without th$ h$lp oanyon$, thou canst b$ at $as$ so ar as h$ is conc$rn$d, and b$ o good ch$$r, orh$ will not again b$ "ad$ a king. Alr$ady s$'$ral proph$ci$s o ours ha'$appli$d to insigni icant tri l$s, and what r$sts upon dr$a"s is apt to b$ 'ain.>Astyag$s "ad$ r$ply= >Q$ sorc$r$rs, a" $ntir$ly o your opinion that th$ dr$a"has b$$n ul ill$d wh$n th$ boy was king in na"$, and that ha'$ nothing "or$to $ar ro" hi". Q$t couns$l "$ car$ ully as to what is sa $st or "y hous$ andor yours$l'$s.> &h$n th$ "agicians said= >!$nd th$ boy away, that h$ "ay g$tout o thy sight, s$nd hi" to th$ land o th$ 5$rsians, to his par$nts.> 0h$nAstyag$s had h$ard this, h$ was gr$atly pl$as$d. $ s$nt or +yrus, and said tohi"= >7y son, ha'$ wrong$d th$$ gr$atly, "isl$d by a d$c$it ul dr$a", but thygood ortun$ has sa'$d th$$. ow go ch$$r ully to th$ land o th$ 5$rsians?


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shall gi'$ th$$ sa $ conduct. &h$r$ wilt thou ind a '$ry di $r$nt ath$r, and a'$ry di $r$nt "oth$r than th$ h$rd$rs, 7ithradat$s and his wi $.> &hus spak$Astyag$s, and +yrus was s$nt away. 0h$n h$ arri'$d in th$ hous$ o +a"bys$s,his par$nts r$c$i'$d hi" with gr$at Boy wh$n th$y l$arn$d who h$ was, or th$y

b$li$'$d hi" to ha'$ p$rish$d at that ti"$, and th$y d$sir$d to know how h$ had

b$$n pr$s$r'$d. $ told th$" that h$ had b$li$'$d hi"s$l to b$ th$ son o th$cattl$ h$rd$r, but had l$arn$d $'$rything on th$ way ro" th$ co"panions who"Astyag$s had

p. 3:

s$nt with hi". $ r$lat$d that th$ cattl$ h$rd$r%s wi $ had sa'$d hi", and prais$dh$r throughout. &h$ >bitch> (!pako) play$d th$ principal part in hiscon'$rsation. &h$ par$nts took hold o this na"$, so that th$ pr$s$r'ation o th$child "ight app$ar still "or$ wond$r ul, and thus was laid th$ oundation o th$"yth that th$ $-pos$d +yrus was nurs$d by a bitch.

at$r on, +yrus, on th$ instigation o arpagos, stirr$d up th$ 5$rsians against th$7$d$s. 0ar was d$clar$d, and +yrus, at th$ h$ad o th$ 5$rsians, con u$r$d th$ 7$d$sin battl$. Astyag$s was tak$n prison$r ali'$, but +yrus did not har" hi", and k$pt hi"with hi" until his $nd. $rodotus% r$port conclud$s with th$ words= > ut ro" that ti"$on th$ 5$rsians and +yrus r$ign$d o'$r Asia. &hus was +yrus born and rais$d, and"ad$ a king.>

&h$ r$port o 5o"p$ius &rogus is pr$s$r'$d only in th$ $-tract by *ustin, according towho" Astyag$s had a daught$r but no "al$ h$ir. 1 &his '$rsion continu$s=

n his dr$a" h$ saw a 'in$ grow orth ro" h$r lap, th$ sprouts o whicho'$rshadow$d all Asia. &h$ dr$a" int$rpr$t$rs d$clar$d that th$ 'ision signi i$dth$ "agnitud$ o his grandson, who" his daught$r was to b$ar? but also his ownloss o his do"inions. n ord$r to banish this dr$ad, Astyag$s ga'$ his daught$rin "arriag$ n$ith$r to a pro"in$nt "an nor to a 7$d$, so that his grandson%s"ind "ight not b$ upli t$d by th$ pat$rnal $stat$ b$sid$s th$ "at$rnal? but h$"arri$d h$r to +a"bys$s, a "iddl$/class "an ro" th$ th$n unknown p$opl$ oth$ 5$rsians. ut this was not $nough to banish th$ $ars o Astyag$s, and h$su""on$d his pr$gnant daught$r, in ord$r to ha'$ h$r in ant d$stroy$d b$ or$his $y$s. 0h$n a boy had b$$n born, h$ ga'$ hi" to arpagos, his ri$nd andcon idant, to kill hi". #or $ar that th$ daught$r o Astyag$s would tak$ r$'$ng$upon hi" or th$ d$ath o h$r boy, wh$n sh$ ca"$ to r$ign

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a t$r h$r ath$r%s d$ath, h$ d$li'$r$d th$ boy to th$ king%s h$rd$r or $-posur$. Atth$ sa"$ ti"$ that +yrus was born, a son happ$n$d to b$ born also to th$ h$rd$r.0h$n his wi $ l$arn$d that th$ king%s child had b$$n $-pos$d, sh$ urg$ntly

pray$d or it to b$ brought to h$r, that sh$ "ight look at it. 7o'$d by h$r$ntr$ati$s, th$ h$rd$r r$turn$d to th$ woods. &h$r$ h$ ound a bitch standing

b$sid$ th$ child, gi'ing it h$r t$ats, and k$$ping th$ b$asts and birds away ro"it. At this asp$ct h$ was ill$d with th$ sa"$ co"passion as th$ bitch? so that h$

pick$d up th$ boy and carri$d hi" ho"$, th$ bitch ollowing hi" in gr$atdistr$ss. 0h$n his wi $ took th$ boy in h$r ar"s, h$ s"il$d at h$r as i h$


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alr$ady kn$w h$r? and as h$ was '$ry strong, and ingratiat$d hi"s$l with h$r byhis pl$asant s"il$, sh$ 'oluntarily b$gg$d th$ h$rd$r to D$-pos$ h$r own childinst$ad andE 1 p$r"it h$r to rais$ th$ boy? b$ it that sh$ was int$r$st$d in hisw$l ar$, or that sh$ plac$d h$r hop$s on hi".

&hus th$ two boys had to $-chang$ at$s? on$ was rais$d in plac$ o th$ h$rd$r%s child,whil$ th$ oth$r was $-pos$d inst$ad o th$ grandson o th$ king. &h$ r$"aind$r o thisappar$ntly "or$ pri"iti'$ r$port agr$$s $ss$ntially with th$ account o $rodotus.

An altog$th$r di $r$nt '$rsion o th$ +yrus "yth is $-tant in th$ r$port o +t$sias, acont$"porary o $rodotus. &h$ original o his narrati'$, which co"pris$d "or$ thanan $ntir$ book in his 5$rsian history, has b$$n lost? but a sur'i'ing rag"$nt o icholaso Ha"ascus su""ari n "y st$ad, th$ youth who" thou hast

prais$d will pour th$ win$, and i h$ should pl$as$ th$$, th$ king, as a cupb$ar$r, who a" a $unuch, will adopt hi" as "y son.> Astyag$s cons$nt$d, but th$

oth$r con id$d in "any ways in +yrus as in a son. +yrus thus stood at th$ king%ssid$, and pour$d his win$ by day and by night, showing gr$at ability andcl$'$rn$ss. Astyag$s con $rr$d upon hi"

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th$ inco"$ o Art$"bar$s, as i h$ had b$$n his son, adding "any pr$s$nts, and+yrus b$ca"$ a gr$at "an whos$ na"$ was h$ard $'$rywh$r$.

Astyag$s had a '$ry nobl$ and b$auti ul daught$r, 1 who" h$ ga'$ to th$ 7$d$!pita"as, adding all 7$dia as h$r dowry. &h$n +yrus s$nt or his ath$r and

"oth$r, in th$ land o th$ 7$d$s, and th$y r$Boic$d in th$ good ortun$ o th$irson, and his "other to!d hi" the drea" #hich she had at the ti"e that she #asbearing hi" , whil$ asl$$p in th$ sanctuary as sh$ was t$nding th$ goats. o"uch #ater %assed a#ay fro" her that it beca"e as a !arge strea", inundatinga!! 'sia, and f!o#ing as far as the sea. 0h$n th$ ath$r h$ard this, h$ ord$r$d th$dr$a" to b$ plac$d b$ or$ th$ +hald$ans in abylon. +yrus su""on$d th$wis$st a"ong th$", and co""unicat$d th$ dr$a" to hi". $ d$clar$d that th$dr$a" or$told gr$at good ortun$ to +yrus, and the highest dignity in 'sia? butAstyag$s "ust not l$arn o it, > or $ls$ h$ would disgrac$ ully kill th$$, as w$llas "ys$l th$ int$rpr$t$r,> said th$ abylonian. &h$y swor$ to $ach oth$r to t$llno on$ o this gr$at and inco"parabl$ 'ision. 0yrus !ater on rose to sti!! higherdignities, created his father a atra% of Persia, and raised his "other to thehighest ran and %ossessions a"ong the Persian #o"en. ut wh$n th$abylonian was kill$d soon a t$rwards by O$bar$s, th$ con idant o +yrus, hiswi $ b$tray$d th$ at$ ul dr$a" to th$ king, wh$n sh$ l$arn$d o +yrus%$-p$dition to 5$rsia, which h$ had und$rtak$n in pr$paration o th$ r$'olt. &h$king s$nt his hors$"$n a t$r +yrus, with th$ co""and to d$li'$r hi" d$ad orali'$. ut +yrus $scap$d th$" by a rus$. #inally a co"bat took plac$,t$r"inating in th$ d$ $at o th$ 7$d$s. +yrus also con u$r$d 2gbatana, and h$r$th$ daught$r o Astyag$s and h$r husband !pita"as, with th$ir two sons, w$r$tak$n prison$rs. ut Astyag$s hi"s$l could not b$ ound,

p. 39

or A"ytis and !pita"as had conc$al$d hi" in th$ palac$, und$r th$ ra t$rs oth$ roo . +yrus th$n ord$r$d that A"ytis, h$r husband, and th$ childr$n should

b$ tortur$d until th$y r$'$al$d th$ hiding plac$ o Astyag$s, but h$ ca"$ out'oluntarily, that his r$lati'$s "ight not b$ tortur$d on his account. 0yrusco""anded the e7ecution of %ita"as , b$caus$ h$ had li$d in a ir"ing to b$ inignoranc$ o Astyag$s hiding plac$? but '"ytis beca"e the #ife of 0yrus . $r$"o'$d th$ $tt$rs o Astyag$s, with which O$bar$s had bound hi", honoredhi" as a father , and "ad$ hi" a !atrap o th$ arkanians.

A gr$at si"ilarity to $rodotus% '$rsion o th$ +yrus "yth is ound in th$ $arly historyo th$ 5$rsian royal h$ro, Gaikhosra', as r$lat$d by #irdausi in th$ !hah a"ah. &his"yth is "ost $-t$nsi'$ly r$nd$r$d by !pi$g$l. 1 Huring th$ war ar$ o Ging GaikLus, oactria and ran, against Ging A rLsiLb, o &uran, ai @us fe!! out #ith his son,i@8a sh, who appli$d to A rLsiLb or prot$ction and assistanc$. $ was kindly r$c$i'$d

by A rLsiLb, who ga'$ hi" his daught$r #$ringis to wi $, on th$ p$rsuasion o his 'i


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d$li'$ry o #$ringis to th$ king, 5irLn is grant$d p$r"ission to k$$p h$r in his hous$.&h$ shad$ o th$ "urd$r$d !iL'aksh onc$ co"$s to hi" in a dr$a" and t$lls hi" that ana'$ng$r has b$$n born? 5irLn actually inds in th$ roo" o #$ringis a n$wborn boy,who" h$ na"$s Gaikhosra'. A rLsiLb no long$r insist$d upon th$ killing o th$ boy, buth$ ord$r$d

p. 4

Dparagraph continu$sE 5irLn to surrender the chi!d #ith a nurse to the herders, #ho #ere toraise hi" in ignorance of his origin. ut his royal d$sc$nt is pro"ptly r$'$al$d in hiscourag$ and his d$"$anor? and as 5irLn tak$s th$ boy back into his ho"$, A rLsiLb

b$co"$s distrust ul, and ord$rs th$ boy to b$ l$d b$ or$ hi". nstruct$d by 5irLn,Gaikhosra' plays th$ ool, 1 and r$assur$d as to his har"l$ssn$ss, th$ !hah dis"iss$shi" to his "oth$r, #$ringis. #inally, Gaikhosra' is crown$d as king by his grand ath$r,GaikLus. A t$r prolong$d, co"plicat$d, and t$dious co"bats, A rLsiLb is at last tak$n

prison$r, with di'in$ assistanc$. Gaikhosra' strik$s his h$ad o , and also caus$s

ars$'a< to b$ d$capitat$d.

A c$rtain r$s$"blanc$ to th$ pr$c$ding saga, although "or$ r$"ot$, is pr$s$nt$d by th$"yth o #$ridun, as told by #irdausi. 3oh@ , the ing of $ran, once sees in a drea"three "en of roya! tribe. &wo o th$" ar$ b$nt with ag$, but b$tw$$n th$" is a younger"an who holds a club,

p. 41

with a bull%s h$ad, in his right hand? this "an st$ps up to hi", and fe!!s hi" #ith his c!ubto the ground . &h$ dr$a" int$rpr$t$rs d$clar$d to th$ king that th$ young h$ro who will

d$thron$ hi" is #$ridun, a scion o th$ trib$ o Hsch$"schid. MohLk at onc$ s$ts out tolook or th$ tracks o his dr$ad$d $n$"y. #$ridun is th$ son o Abtin, a grandson oHsch$"schid. is ath$r hid$s ro" th$ pursuit o th$ tyrant, but h$ is s$i


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C= #. 2. ang$= Herodots 5eschichten (R$cla" $dition), ;ol. , pp. 9:, 1 C .+o"par$ also Hunck$r= History of 'nti=uity ( $ip in th$ 3eitschrift des *ereins f4r *o! s unde, ;ol.I D19 E, p. 3:3) has r$pr$s$nt$d th$ a"l$t saga as a 'ariation o th$ 5$rsian "yth oGaikhosra'. &his id$a was ollow$d up by . $ss"ann (> &ie yrossage . . . ,> loc.cit.), who shows that th$ a"l$t saga strikingly agr$$s in c$rtain it$"s// or $-a"pl$, inth$ si"ulat$d olly//with th$ sagas o rutus and o &$ll. (+o"par$ also th$

prot$stations o 7os$s.) n anoth$r conn$ction, th$ d$$p$r roots o th$s$ r$lations ha'$ b$$n "or$ $-t$nsi'$ly discuss$d, $sp$cially with r$ $r$nc$ to th$ &$ll saga. (!$$ $n/est"oti8, +hapt$r 'ii.)

Att$ntion is also dir$ct$d to th$ story o Ha'id, as it is told in th$ books o !a"u$l. $r$

again, th$ royal scion, Ha'id, is "ad$ a sh$ph$rd, who gradually ris$s in th$ social scal$up to th$ royal thron$. $ lik$wis$ is gi'$n th$ king%s (!aul%s) daught$r in "arriag$, andth$ king s$$ks his li $, but Ha'id is always sa'$d by "iraculous "$ans ro" th$ gr$at$st

p$rils. $ also $'ad$s p$rs$cution by si"ulating d$"$ntia and playing th$ ool. &h$r$lationship b$tw$$n th$ a"l$t saga and th$ Ha'id saga has alr$ady b$$n point$d out

by *iric


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5$rsian #$ridun corr$sponds th$ indu &rita, whos$ A'$stian doubl$ is &hra$taona. &h$last/na"$d or" is th$ "ost pr$do"inantly auth$nticat$d? ro" it was or"$d, bytransition o th$ aspirat$d sounds, irst 5hr$nduna, th$n #rSdTn or A rSdun? #$ridun is a"or$ r$c$nt corruption. +o"par$ !pi$g$l, op. cit., ;ol. , pp. :3C .

TRI-TA/

&h$ th$"$ o th$ #$ridun story is pursu$d in th$ &ristan saga, as r$lat$d in th$ $pic po$" by ott ri$d 'on !trassburg. &his is $sp$cially $'id$nt in th$ prologu$ o th$&ristan saga, which is r$p$at$d lat$r on in th$ ad'$ntur$s o th$ h$ro hi"s$l(duplication) . Riwalin, king in th$ land o th$ 5ar"$nians, in an $-p$dition to th$ courto 7ark, king o +ornwall and 2ngland, had b$co"$ ac uaint$d with th$ latt$r%s

b$auti ul sist$r, lanch$ lur$, and his h$art was a la"$ with lo'$ or h$r. 0hil$assisting 7ark in a ca"paign , Riwalin was "ortally wound$d and

p. 4

was carri$d to &intaBol$. lanch$ lur$, disguised as a beggar "aid , hast$n$d to hissickb$d, and h$r d$'ot$d lo'$ sa'$d th$ king%s li $. !h$ l$d with h$r lo'$r to his nati'$land (obstacl$s) and was th$r$ proclai"$d as his consort. ut 7organ attack$d Riwalin%scountry, or th$ sak$ o lanch$ lur$, who" th$ king $ntrust$d to his faithfu! retainerRual, b$caus$ sh$ was carrying a child. Rual plac$d th$ u$$n or sa $k$$ping in th$castl$ o Gan$$l. $r$ she ga8e birth to a son and died, #hi!e her husband fe!! in thebatt!e against Morgan. $n order to %rotect the ing sold$ th$ 0hit$ and,>
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o rittany, who r$s$"bl$d his lo'$, > sold$ th$ #air.> At last h$ is again wound$d untod$ath, and sold$ arri'$s too lat$ to sa'$ hi". 1

A plain$r '$rsion o th$ &ristan saga//in th$ s$ns$ o th$ charact$ristic $atur$s o th$"yth o th$ birth o th$ h$ro//is ound in th$ airy tal$ >&h$ &ru$ rid$,> uot$d by

Riklin ro" Ritt$rshaus. A royal pair ha'$ no childr$n. &h$ king ha'ing thr$at$n$d tokill his wi $ unl$ss sh$ b$ars a child by th$ ti"$ o his r$turn ro" his s$a 'oyag$, sh$ is

brought to hi" during his Bourn$y, by his rown up as a oundling in th$ car$ o Rual and his wi $, #lor$t$, th$ winso"$ youth&ristan introduc$s hi"s$l to 7ark in a stag hunt, as an $-p$rt hunts"an, is r$cogni


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tri$d to d$sc$nd th$ hill to th$ ri'$r, to carry out th$ co""and, th$y ound thatth$ ri'$r had ris$n, and th$y w$r$ unabl$ to r$ach its b$d. &h$ tub with th$childr$n was th$r$ or$ thrust by th$" into th$ shallow wat$r at th$ shor$. $t f!oated or a whil$? but the #ater %ro"%t!y receded, and noc ing against a stone, the tub ca%si/ed , and th$ scr$a"ing in ants w$r$ ups$t into th$ ri'$r "ud.

They #ere heard by a she-#o!f #ho had ust brought forth and had her udders fu!! of "i! ? she ca"e and ga8e her teats to the boys, to nurs$ th$", and as th$yw$r$ drinking sh$ lick$d th$" cl$an with h$r tongu$. Abo'$ th$" l$w awoodp$ck$r, which guard$d th$ childr$n, and also carri$d ood to th$". &h$ath$r was pro'iding or his sons= or th$ wol and th$ woodp$ck$r ar$ ani"alscons$crat$d to ath$r 7ars. &his was s$$n by on$ o th$ royal h$rds"$n, whowas dri'ing his pigs back to th$ pastur$ ro" which th$ wat$r had r$c$d$d.!tartl$d by th$ sp$ctacl$, h$ su""on$d his "at$s, who ound th$ sh$/wolatt$nding lik$ a "oth$r to th$ childr$n, and th$ childr$n tr$at$d h$r as th$ir"oth$r. &h$ "$n "ad$ a loud nois$ to scar$ th$ ani"al away? but th$

p. 4:

wol was not a raid? sh$ l$ t th$ childr$n, but not ro" $ar? slowly, withouth$$ding th$ h$rds"$n, sh$ disapp$ar$d into th$ wild$rn$ss o th$ or$st, at th$holy sit$ o #aunus, wh$r$ th$ wat$r gush$s ro" a gully o th$ "ountain.7$anwhil$ th$ "$n pick$d up th$ boys and carri$d th$" to th$ chi$ swin$h$rdo th$ king, #austulus, or th$y b$li$'$d that th$ gods did not wish th$ childr$nto p$rish. But the #ife of ;austu!us had ust gi8en birth to a dead chi!d, and #as fu!! of sorro#. Her husband ga8e her the t#ins, and she nursed the"? the cou%!eraised the chi!dren, and na"ed the" o"u!us and e"us .

A t$r Ro"$ had b$$n ound$d, lat$r on, Ging Ro"ulus built hi"s$l a hous$ not arro" th$ plac$ wh$r$ his tub had stood. &h$ gully in which th$ sh$/wol had

disapp$ar$d has b$$n known sinc$ that ti"$ as th$ 0ol %s ully, th$ up$rcal. &h$i"ag$ in or$ o th$ sh$/wol with th$ twins was subs$ u$ntly $r$ct$d at this spot, 1 andth$ sh$/wol h$rs$l , th$ upa, was worshipp$d by th$ Ro"ans as a di'inity.

&h$ Ro"ulus saga lat$r on und$rw$nt "ani old trans"utations, "utilations, additions,and int$rpr$tations. t is b$st known in th$ or" trans"itt$d by i'y ( , 3 .), wh$r$w$ l$arn so"$thing about th$ ant$c$d$nts and subs$ u$nt at$ o th$ twins=

Ging 5roca b$ u$aths th$ royal dignity to his irstborn son, u"itor. ut his younger brother, '"u!ius, %ushes hi" fro" the throne , and b$co"$s kinghi"s$l . !o that no scion ro" u"itor%s a"ily "ay aris$, as th$ a'$ng$r, h$kills th$ "al$ d$sc$ndants o his broth$r. hea i!8ia, the daughter, he e!ects asa 8esta!, and thus de%ri8es her of the ho%e of %rogeny, through %er%etua!8irginity as $nBoin$d upon h$r und$r th$ s$"blanc$ o a "ost honorabl$distinction. ut th$ '$stal "aid$n was o'$rco"$ by 'iol$nc$, and

p. 46

ha'ing brought forth t#ins, sh$ na"$d Mars as th$ father of her i!!egiti"ateoffs%ring , b$ it ro" con'iction, or b$caus$ a god app$ar$d "or$ cr$ditabl$ toh$r as th$ p$rp$trator o th$ cri"$.
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&h$ narrati'$ o th$ $-posur$ in th$ &ib$r go$s on to r$lat$ that th$ loating tub, inwhich th$ boys had b$$n $-pos$d, was l$ t on dry land by th$ r$c$ding wat$rs, and thata thirsty wol , attract$d ro" th$ n$ighboring "ountains by th$ childr$n%s cri$s, o $r$dth$" h$r t$ats. &h$ boys ar$ said to ha'$ b$$n ound by th$ chi$ royal h$rd$r,suppos$dly na"$d #austulus, who took th$" to th$ ho"$st$ad o his wi $, ar$ntia,

wh$r$ th$y w$r$ rais$d. !o"$ b$li$'$ that ar$ntia was call$d upa (>sh$/wol >) by th$h$rd$rs b$caus$ sh$ o $r$d h$r body, and that this was th$ origin o th$ wond$r ul saga.

rown to "anhood, th$ youths Ro"ulus and R$"us prot$ct th$ h$rds against th$attacks o wild ani"als and robb$rs. On$ day R$"us is tak$n prison$r by th$ robb$rs,who accus$ hi" o ha'ing stol$n u"itor%s locks. ut u"itor, to who" h$ issurr$nd$r$d or punish"$nt, was touch$d by his t$nd$r ag$, and wh$n h$ l$arn$d o th$twin broth$rs, h$ susp$ct$d that th$y "ight b$ his $-pos$d grandsons. 0hil$ h$ wasan-iously pond$ring th$ r$s$"blanc$ with th$ $atur$s o his daught$r, and th$ boy%sag$ as corr$sponding to th$ ti"$ o th$ $-posur$, #austulus arri'$d with Ro"ulus, and aconspiracy was hatch$d wh$n th$ d$sc$nt o th$ boys had b$$n l$arn$d ro" th$h$rd$rs. &h$ youths ar"$d th$"s$l'$s or '$ng$anc$, whil$ u"itor took up w$aponsto d$ $nd his clai" to th$ thron$ h$ had usurp$d. A t$r '"u!ius had been assassinated ,

u"itor was r$institut$d as th$ rul$r, and th$ youths r$sol'$d to ound a city in th$r$gion wh$r$ th$y had b$$n $-pos$d and brought up. A urious disput$ aros$ upon th$u$stion o which broth$r was to b$ th$ rul$r o th$ n$wly $r$ct$d city, or n$ith$r twinwas a'or$d by th$ right o pri"og$nitur$, and th$ outco"$ o th$ bird oracl$ was$ ually doubt ul. &h$ saga r$lat$s that R$"us Bu"p$d o'$r th$ n$w wall, to d$rid$ histwin, and o"u!us beca"e so "uch enraged that he s!e# his brother . Ro"ulus th$n

p. 4C

usurp$d th$ sol$ "ast$ry, and th$ city was na"$d Ro"$ a t$r hi".

&h$ Ro"an tal$ o Ro"ulus and R$"us has a clos$ count$rpart in th$ r$$k "yth o acity oundation by th$ twin broth$rs A"phion and M$thus, who w$r$ th$ irst to oundth$ sit$ o &h$b$s o th$ !$'$n at$s. &h$ $nor"ous rocks which M$thus brought ro"th$ "ountains w$r$ Boin$d by th$ "usic drawn ro" A"phion%s lyr$ strings to or" th$walls which b$ca"$ so a"ous lat$r on. A"phion and M$thus pass$d as th$ chi!dren of 3eus and 'ntio%e, daught$r o Ging ykt$us. !h$ $scap$d by light ro" th$ punish"$nt o h$r ath$r, who di$d o gri$ ? on his d$athb$d h$ i"plor$d his brotherand successor on the throne, 9ycus, to punish th$ wrongdoing o Antiop$. 7$anti"$sh$ had "arri$d 2pop$us, th$ king o !icyon, who was kill$d by ycus. Antiop$ wasl$d away by hi" in $tt$rs. !h$ ga'$ birth to twin sons in th$ +itha$ron, wh$r$ sh$ l$ tth$". A sh$ph$rd rais$d th$ boys and call$d th$" A"phion and M$thus. at$r on,Antiop$ succ$$d$d in $scaping ro" th$ tor"$nts o ycus and his wi $, Hirc$. !h$accid$ntally sought sh$lt$r in th$ +itha$ron, with th$ twin broth$rs, now grown up. &h$sh$ph$rd r$'$als to th$ youths th$ act that Antiop$ is th$ir "oth$r. &h$r$upon th$ycru$lly kill Hirc$, and d$pri'$ ycus o th$ rul$rship.

&h$ r$"aining twin sagas, 1 which ar$ $-tr$"$ly nu"$rous, cannot b$ discuss$d ind$tail in this conn$ction. 5ossibly th$y r$pr$s$nt a co"plication o th$ birth "yth byanoth$r '$ry anci$nt and wid$ly distribut$d "yth co"pl$-, that o th$ hostil$ broth$rs,

th$ d$tail$d discussion o which b$longs $ls$wh$r$. &h$ appar$ntly lat$ and s$condarycharact$r o th$ twin typ$ in th$ birth "yths Busti i$s th$ s$paration o this part o"ythology ro" th$ pr$s$nt th$"$. As r$gards th$ Ro"ulus saga, 7o""s$n consid$rs


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it highly probabl$ that it originally told only o Ro"ulus, whil$ th$ igur$ o R$"us wasadd$d subs$ u$ntly, and so"$what disBoint$dly, wh$n it b$ca"$ d$sirabl$

p. 48

to in'$st th$ consulat$ with a sol$"nity ound$d on old tradition.1

Footnotes

44=1 &h$odor 7o""s$n= > &ie echte and die fa!sche 'cca 9arentia>? in ;estgaben f4r5. Ho"eyer ( $rlin, 1891), pp. 93 ? and +"ische ;orschungen ( $rlin, 18C9), ;ol.

, pp. 1 . 7o""s$n r$constructs th$ lost narrati'$ o #abius ro" th$ pr$s$r'$dr$ports o Hionysius ( , C9/831) and o 5lutarch ( o"u!us ).

4:=1 &h$ +apitolin$ !h$/0ol is consid$r$d th$ work o '$ry anci$nt 2truscan artists? it

was $r$ct$d at th$ up$rcal in th$ y$ar 96 .+., according to i'y (I, 31).

4:= All th$s$ r$nd$rings w$r$ co"pil$d by !chw$gl$r, in his o"an History , ;ol. , pp. 384 .

4C=1 !o"$ r$$k twin sagas ar$ uot$d by !chub$rt (op. cit. pp. 13 .) in th$ir $ss$ntialcont$nt. +onc$rning th$ $-t$nsi'$ distribution o this l$g$ndary or", co"par$ th$so"$what con us$d book o *. . $ck$r= The T#in aga as the ey to the $nter%retation of 'ncient Tradition ( $ip


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olaos. 1 n this way 2urysth$us b$ca"$ th$ king in 7yc$na$, in th$ land o th$Argolians, in con or"ity with th$ oath o M$us, and th$ lat$r/born $rcul$s was hissubB$ct.

&h$ old l$g$nd r$lat$d th$ raising o $rcul$s on th$ str$ngth/gi'ing wat$rs o th$

#ountain o Hirc$, th$ nourish"$nt o all &h$ban childr$n. at$r on, how$'$r, anoth$r'$rsion aros$. #$aring th$ B$alousy o $ra, Alc"$n$ e7%osed the chi!d she had bornein a plac$ that or a long ti"$ a t$r was known as th$ #i$ld o $rcul$s. About this ti"$,Ath$na arri'$d, in co"pany with $ra. !h$ "ar'$l$d at th$ b$auti ul or" o th$ child,and p$rsuad$d $ra to put hi" to h$r br$ast. ut th$ boy took th$ br$ast with ar gr$at$rstr$ngth than his ag$ s$$"$d to warrant? $ra $lt pains and angrily lung th$ child toth$ ground. Ath$na, how$'$r, carri$d hi" to th$ n$ighboring city and too hi" to:ueen '!c"ene, #hose "aternity #as un no#n to her, as a %oor found!ing, #ho" shebegged her to raise for the sa e of charity. &his p$culiar accid$nt is truly r$"arkabl$P&h$ child%s own "oth$r allows hi" to p$rish, disr$garding th$ duty o "at$rnal lo'$,and th$ st$p"oth$r, who is ill$d with natural hatr$d against th$ child, sa'$s h$r $n$"ywithout knowing it. $rcul$s had drawn only a $w drops ro" $ra%s br$ast,

p. :

but th$ di'in$ "ilk was su ici$nt to $ndow hi" with i""ortality. An att$"pt on $ra%s part to kill th$ boy, asl$$p in his cradl$, by "$ans o two s$rp$nts, pro'$d a ailur$, orth$ child awak$n$d and crush$d th$ b$asts with a singl$ pr$ssur$ o his hands. As a boy,$rcul$s on$ day kill$d his tutor, inos, b$ing inc$ns$d o'$r an unBust chastis$"$nt.A"phitryon, $aring th$ wildn$ss o th$ youth, s$nt hi" to t$nd his o-/h$rds in th$"ountains, with th$ h$rd$rs, a"ong who" h$ is said by so"$ to ha'$ b$$n rais$d$ntir$ly, lik$ A"phion and M$thus, +yrus, and Ro"ulus. $r$ h$ li'$s ro" th$ hunt, in

th$ r$$do" o natur$. 1

&h$ "yth o $rcul$s sugg$sts in c$rtain $atur$s th$ indu saga o th$ h$ro Grishna,who lik$ "any h$ro$s $scap$s a g$n$ral in anticid$, and is th$n brought up by a h$rd$r%swi $, asodha. A wick$d sh$/d$"on app$ars, who has b$$n s$nt by Ging Gansa to killth$ boy. !h$ tak$s th$ post o w$t nurs$ in th$ ho"$, but is r$cogni


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48=4 A si"ilar "ingling o th$ di'in$ and hu"an post$rity is r$lat$d in th$ "yth o&h$s$us, whos$ "oth$r, A$thra, th$ b$lo'$d o 5os$idon, was 'isit$d in on$ night bythis god and by th$ childl$ss Ging A$g$us o Ath$ns, who had b$$n brought und$r th$in lu$nc$ o win$. &h$ boy was rais$d in s$cr$t and in ignoranc$ o his ath$r. (!$$RKsch$r, op. cit., articl$ >A$g$us.>)

49=1 Alc"$n$ bor$ $rcul$s as th$ son o M$us, and phicl$s as th$ o spring oA"phitryon. According to Apollodorus, th$y w$r$ twin childr$n, born at th$ sa"$ ti"$?according to oth$rs, phicl$s was conc$i'$d and born on$ night lat$r than $rcul$s. (!$$RKsch$r, op. cit., articl$s >A"phitryon> and >Alc"$n$.>) &h$ shadowy charact$r o th$twin broth$r, and his loos$ conn$ction with th$ $ntir$ "yth, is again $'id$nt. n asi"ilar way, &$l$phus, th$ son o Aug$, was $-pos$d tog$th$r with 5arth$nopa$us, th$son o Atalanta, nurs$d by a do$, and tak$n by h$rd$rs to Ging +orythos. &h$ $-t$rnalsubs$ u$nt ins$rtion o th$ partn$r is h$r$ again uit$ ob'ious.

49= A t$r Hiodorus !iculus, ook ;, p. 9 o 0ur"%s $r"an translation (!tuttgart,1831).

E-8-

&h$ osp$l according to uk$ (1= 6/3:) r$lat$s th$ proph$cy o th$ birth o *$sus, asollows=

And in th$ si-th "onth th$ ang$l abri$l s$nt ro" od unto a city o alil$$,na"$d a and th$ ord od shalt gi'$ unto hi" th$ thron$ o his ath$rHa'id. And h$ shall r$ign o'$r th$ hous$ o *acob or $'$r? and o his kingdo"th$r$ shall b$ no $nd. &h$n said 7ary unto th$ ang$l, ow shall this b$, seeing $no# not a "anC And th$ ang$l answ$r$d and said unto h$r, &h$ oly host

shall co"$ upon th$$, and th$ pow$r o th$ igh$st shall o'$rshadow th$$=th$r$ or$ also that holy thing which shall b$ born o th$$ sha!! be ca!!ed the onof 5od .

&his r$port is suppl$"$nt$d by th$ osp$l according to 7atth$w (1=18/ :), in th$narrati'$ o th$ birth and childhood o *$sus= 1

ow th$ birth o *$sus +hrist was on this wis$= wh$n as his "oth$r 7ary was$spous$d to *os$ph, b$ or$ th$y ca"$ tog$th$r, she #as found #ith chi!d of the

Ho!y 5host . &h$n *os$ph, h$r husband, b$ing a Bust "an, and not willing to"ak$ h$r a publick $-a"pl$, was "ind$d to put h$r away pri'ily. ut, whil$ h$
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thought on th$s$ things, b$hold, the ange! of the 9ord a%%eared unto hi" in adrea" , saying, *os$ph, thou son o Ha'id, $ar not to tak$ unto th$$ 7ary thywi $= or that which is conc$i'$d in h$r is o th$ oly host. And sh$ shall bringorth a son, and thou shall call his na"$ *2! != or h$ shall sa'$ his p$opl$ro" th$ir sins. ow all this was don$ that it "ight b$ ul ill$d which was

spok$n o th$ ord by p. :

th$ proph$t, saying, $hold, a 'irgin shall b$ with child, and shall bring orth ason, and th$y shall call his na"$ 2""anu$l, which b$ing int$rpr$t$d is, odwith us. &h$n *os$ph b$ing rais$d ro" sl$$p did as th$ ang$l o th$ ord had

bidd$n hi" and took unto hi" his wi $= 'nd ne# her not ti!! she had brought forth her firstborn son> and h$ call$d his na"$ *2! !.

$r$ w$ int$rpolat$ th$ d$tail$d account o th$ birth o *$sus, ro" osp$l o uk$

( =4/ )=

And *os$ph also w$nt up ro" alil$$, out o th$ city o a


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ow wh$n *$sus was born in $thl$h$" o *ud$a in th$ days o $rod th$ king, b$hold, th$r$ ca"$ #ise "en fro" the east to *$rusal$", !aying, Where is hethat is born ing of the Je#sC or w$ ha'$ s$$n his star in th$ $ast, and ar$ co"$to worship hi". 0h$n $rod th$ king had h$ard th$s$ things, h$ was troubl$d,and all *$rusal$" with hi". And wh$n h$ had gath$r$d all th$ chi$ pri$sts and

scrib$s o th$ p$opl$ tog$th$r, h$ d$"and$d o th$" wh$r$ +hrist should b$ born. And th$y said unto hi", n $thl$h$" o *ud$a= or thus it is writt$n by th$ proph$t, And thou $thl$h$", in th$ land o *uda, art not th$ l$ast a"ong th$ princ$s o *uda, or out o th$$ shall co"$ a o'$rnor, that shall rul$ "y p$opl$

sra$l.

&h$n $rod, wh$n h$ had pri'ily call$d th$ wis$ "$n, $n uir$d o th$"dilig$ntly what ti"$ th$ star app$ar$d. And h$ s$nt th$" to $thl$h$", and said,o and s$arch dilig$ntly or th$ young child? and wh$n y$ ha'$ ound hi", bring"$ word again, that "ay co"$ and worship hi" also. 0h$n th$y had h$ard th$king, th$y d$part$d? and, lo, th$ star, which th$y saw in th$ $ast, w$nt b$ or$th$", till it ca"$ and stood o'$r wh$r$ th$ young child was. 0h$n th$y saw th$star, th$y r$Boic$d with $-c$$ding gr$at Boy.

p. :4

And wh$n th$y w$r$ co"$ into th$ hous$, th$y saw th$ young child with 7aryhis "oth$r, and $ll down, and worshipp$d hi"= and wh$n th$y had op$n$d th$irtr$asur$s, th$y pr$s$nt$d unto hi" gi ts? gold, and rankinc$ns$, and "yrrh. And

b$ing warn$d o od in a dr$a", that th$y should not r$turn to $rod, th$yd$part$d into th$ir own country anoth$r way. And wh$n th$y w$r$ d$part$d,

b$hold, the ange! of the 9ord a%%eareth to Jose%h in a drea", saying, 'rise, andta e the young chi!d and his "other, and f!ee into )gy%t , and b$ thou th$r$ until bring th$$ word= or $rod will s$$k th$ young child to d$stroy hi". 0h$n h$aros$, h$ took th$ young child and his "oth$r by night, and d$part$d into 2gypt=and was th$r$ until th$ d$ath o $rod= that it "ight b$ ul ill$d which wasspok$n o th$ ord by th$ proph$t, saying, Out o 2gypt ha'$ call$d "y son.

&h$n $rod, wh$n h$ saw that h$ was "ock$d o th$ wis$ "$n, was $-c$$dingwroth, and s$nt orth, and s!e# a!! the chi!dren that #ere in Beth!ehe", and ina!! the coasts thereof, fro" t#o years o!d and under , according to th$ ti"$ whichh$ had dilig$ntly $n uir$d o th$ wis$ "$n. . . .

ut wh$n $rod was d$ad, b$hold, an ang$l o th$ ord app$ar$th in a dr$a" to*os$ph in 2gypt, !aying, Aris$, and tak$ th$ young child and his. "oth$r, and gointo th$ land o sra$l= for they are dead #hich sought the young chi!d


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!i"ilar birth l$g$nds to thos$ o *$sus ha'$ also b$$n trans"itt$d o oth$r ound$rs or$ligions, such as Moroast$r, who is said to ha'$ li'$d about th$ y$ar 1 .+. is"oth$r, Hughda, dr$a"s, in the si7th "onth of her %regnancy, that th$ wick$d and th$good spirits ar$ ighting or th$ $"bryonic Moroast$r? a "onst$r t$ars th$ utur$Moroast$r ro" th$ "oth$r%s wo"b? but a light god ights th$ "onst$r with his horn o

light, r$/$nclos$s th$ $"bryo in th$ "oth$r%s wo"b, blows upon Hughda, and sh$ b$co"$s pr$gnant again. On awak$ning, sh$ hurri$s in h$r $ar to a wis$ dr$a"/int$rpr$t$r, who is unabl$ to $-plain th$ wond$r ul dr$a" b$ or$ th$ $nd o thr$$ days.$ th$n d$clar$s that th$ child sh$ is carrying is d$stin$d to b$co"$ a "an o gr$at

i"portanc$? th$ dark cloud and th$ "ountain o light signi y that sh$ and h$r son will atirst ha'$ to und$rgo nu"$rous trials, through tyrants and oth$r $n$"i$s, but at last th$ywill o'$rco"$ all p$rils. Hughda at onc$ r$turns to h$r ho"$ and in or"s 5ourushacpa,h$r husband, o $'$rything that has happ$n$d. ""$diat$ly a t$r his birth, th$ boy wass$$n to laugh? this was th$ irst "iracl$ through which h$ dr$w att$ntion to hi"s$l . The"agicians announce the birth of the chi!d as a %ortent of disaster to the %rince of therea!" , HurLnsarTn, who b$tak$s hi"s$l without d$lay to th$ dw$lling o 5ourushacpa,in ord$r to stab th$ child. ut his hand alls paraly


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History of Jesus 0hrist ( $ip 3eitschrift f4r die eutest. Wissenschaften, 19 , p. 3:9.

:4=1 According to r$c$nt in'$stigations, th$ birth history o +hrist is said ha'$ th$gr$at$st r$s$"blanc$ with th$ royal 2gyptian "yth, o'$r i'$ thousand y$ars old, whichr$lat$s th$ birth o A"$nophis . $r$ again r$curs th$ di'in$ proph$cy o th$ birth oa son, to th$ waiting u$$n? p. :: h$r $rtili


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who was ollow$d by th$ aith ul do$, took hi" to his ho"$, and reso!8ed to bring hi"u% as his o#n son. $ ga'$ hi" th$ na"$ o !i$g ri$d. n 7i"ir%s ho"$, !i$g ri$d soonattain$d an $nor"ous statur$ and str$ngth, but his wil uln$ss

p. :8

caus$d 7i"ir to get rid of hi". $ s$nt th$ youth into th$ or$st, wh$r$ it had b$$narrang$d that th$ dragon $gin, 7i"ir%s broth$r, was to kill hi". ut !i$g ri$d con u$rsth$ dragon, and kills 7i"ir. $ th$n proc$$ds to runhild, who na"$s his par$nts tohi".

!i"ilar to th$ $arly history o !i$g ri$d is an Austrasian saga that t$lls o th$ birth andyouth o 0ol di$trich. 1 is "oth$r is lik$wis$ accus$d o unfaithfu!ness, and oint$rcours$ with th$ d$'il, by a 'assal who" sh$ has r$puls$d, and who sp$aks $'il oh$r to th$ r$turning king, ugdi$trich o +onstantinopl$.

The ing surrenders the chi!d to the faithfu! Berchtung, #ho is to i!! it, but e7%oses itinstead in the forest, near the #ater , in th$ hop$ that it will all in o its own accord andthus ind its d$ath. ut th$ rolicking child r$"ains unhurt, and e8en the #i!d ani"a!s//lions, b$ars, and wol'$s, which co"$ at night to th$ wat$r// do not har" it . &h$astonish$d $rchtung r$sol'$s to sa'$ th$ boy, and h$ surrenders hi" to a ga"e ee%erwho, tog$th$r with his wi $, rais$s hi" and na"$s hi" 0ol di$trich. 3

&hr$$ lat$r h$ro $pics "ay also b$ uot$d in this conn$ction= #irst, th$r$ is th$thirt$$nth/c$ntury #r$nch saga o orn, th$ son o Alu , who, a t$r ha'ing b$$n $-pos$don th$ s$a, inally r$ach$s th$ court o Ging unla ? a t$r nu"$rous ad'$ntur$s, h$ winsth$ king%s daught$r, Ri"hilt, or his wi $. !$condly, a d$tail sugg$sti'$ o !i$g ri$dapp$ars in th$ saga o th$ skill ul s"ith 0i$land, who, a t$r a'$nging his oully"urd$r$d ath$r, loats down th$ ri'$r 0$s$r, art ully $nclos$d in th$ trunk o a tr$$,and load$d

p. :9

with th$ tools and tr$asur$s o his t$ach$rs. #inally, th$ Ging Arthur l$g$nd contains th$co""ingling o di'in$ and hu"an pat$rnity, th$ $-posur$, and th$ $arly li $ with alowly "an.

Footnotes

:6=1 ;$ry si"ilar traits ar$ ound in th$ +$ltic saga o abis, as trans"itt$d by *ustin.orn as th$ ill$giti"at$ son o a king%s daught$r, abis is p$rs$cut$d in all sorts o ways

by his royal grand ath$r, argoris, but is always sa'$d by di'in$ pro'id$nc$, until h$ isinally r$cogni


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:6=3 As in th$ history o *$sus? co"par$ uk$ =41/49.

:6=4 +o"par$ August Rass"ann= &ie deutsche He!densage and ihre Hei"at ( ano'$r,18:C/8), ;ol. , pp. C? or th$ sourc$s, s$$ *iric


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soon as oh$ngrin s$t $y$s upon th$ swan, h$ $-clai"$d= >&ak$ th$ st$$d backto th$ "ang$r? shall ollow this bird wh$r$'$r h$ "ay l$ad "$.> a'ing aith inod%s o"nipot$nc$, h$ took no ood with hi" in th$ ski . A t$r th$y had b$$na loat i'$ days, th$ swan dipp$d his bill in th$ wat$r, caught a ish, at$ on$ halo it, and ga'$ th$ oth$r hal to th$ princ$ to $at. Thus the night #as fed by the

s#an .

7$anwhil$ 2lsa had su""on$d h$r chi$ tains and r$tain$rs to a "$$ting inAntw$rp. 5r$cis$ly on th$ day o th$ ass$"bly, a swan was sight$d swi""ingupstr$a" (ri'$r !ch$ldt) and drawing b$hind hi" a ski , in which oh$ngrin layasl$$p on his shi$ld. &h$ swan pro"ptly ca"$ to land at th$ shor$, and th$

princ$ was Boy ully w$lco"$d. ardly had his h$l"$t, shi$ld, and sword b$$ntak$n ro" th$ ski , wh$n th$ swan at onc$ swa" away again. oh$ngrin h$ardo th$ wrong which had b$$n don$ to th$ duch$ss and willingly cons$nt$d to

b$co"$ h$r cha"pion. 2lsa th$n su""on$d all h$r r$lati'$s and subB$cts. A plac$ was pr$par$d in 7ain< or oh$ngrin and #ri$drich to ight in th$$"p$ror%s pr$s$nc$. &h$ h$ro o th$ rail d$ $at$d #ri$drich, who con $ss$dha'ing li$d to th$ duch$ss, and was $-$cut$d with th$ a-$. 2lsa was award$d tooh$ngrin, th$y ha'ing long b$$n lo'$rs? but h$ s$cr$tly insisted u%on hera8oiding a!! =uestions as to his ancestry, or #hence he had co"e, saying thatoth$rwis$ h$ would ha'$ to l$a'$ h$r instantan$ously and sh$ would n$'$r s$$hi" again.

#or so"$ ti"$, th$ coupl$ li'$d in p$ac$ and happin$ss. oh$ngrin was a wis$and "ighty rul$r o'$r his land, and also s$r'$d his $"p$ror w$ll in his$-p$ditions against th$ uns and th$ h$ath$n. ut it ca"$ to pass that on$ day inthrowing th$ Ba'$lin h$ unhors$d th$ Huk$ o +l$'$, so that th$ latt$r brok$ anar". &h$ Huch$ss o +l$'$ was angry, and spok$

p. 61

out a"ongst th$ wo"$n, saying, > oh$ngrin "ay b$ bra'$ $nough, and h$ s$$"sto b$ a good +hristian? what a pity that his nobility is not o "uch account forno one no#s #hence he has co"e f!oating to this !and .> &h$s$ words pi$rc$dth$ h$art o th$ Huch$ss o rabant, and sh$ chang$d color with $"otion. Atnight, wh$n h$r spous$ was holding h$r in his ar"s, sh$ w$pt, and h$ said,>0hat is th$ "att$r, 2lsa, "y own@> !h$ "ad$ answ$r, >&h$ Huch$ss o +l$'$has caus$d "$ sor$ pain.> oh$ngrin was sil$nt and ask$d no "or$. &h$ s$condnight, th$ sa"$ ca"$ to pass. ut in th$ third night, 2lsa could no long$r r$tainh$rs$l , and sh$ spok$= > ord, do not chid$ "$P $ #ish to no#, for ourchi!dren 0h$n th$ day brok$, oh$ngrin d$clar$d in public wh$nc$ h$ hadco"$, that 5arsi al was his ath$r, and od had s$nt hi" ro" th$ rail. $ th$nask$d or his two childr$n, which th$ duch$ss had born$ hi", kiss$d th$", toldth$" to tak$ good car$ o his horn and sword, which h$ would l$a'$ b$hind, andsaid= > ow, "ust b$ gon$.> &o th$ duch$ss h$ l$ t a littl$ ring which his "oth$rhad gi'$n hi". &h$n th$ swan, his ri$nd, carn$ swi""ing swi tly, with th$ ski

b$hind hi"? th$ princ$ st$pp$d in and cross$d th$ wat$r, back to th$ s$r'ic$ oth$ rail. 2lsa sank down in a aint. &h$ $"pr$ss r$sol'$d to ee% the youngerboy 9ohengrin, for his father


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th$ widow w$pt and "ourn$d th$ r$st o h$r li $ or h$r b$lo'$d spous$, whon$'$r ca"$ back to h$r. 1

On in'$rting th$ oh$ngrin saga in such a way that th$ $nd is plac$d irst//on th$ basiso th$ r$arrang$"$nt, or $'$n trans"utation o "oti s, not unco""only ound in

p. 6

"yths//w$ ind th$ typ$ o saga with which w$ ha'$ now b$co"$ a"iliar= &h$ in antoh$ngrin, who is id$ntical with his ath$r o th$ sa"$ na"$, f!oats in a 8esse! u%on the

sea and is carried ashore by a s#an. The e"%ress ado%ts hi" as her son, and hebeco"es a 8a!orous hero. a'ing "arri$d a nobl$ "aid$n o th$ land, h$ orbids h$r toin uir$ as to his origin. 0h$n th$ co""and is brok$n h$ is oblig$d to r$'$al his"iraculous d$sc$nt and di'in$ "ission, a t$r which th$ swan carri$s hi" back in hisski to th$ rail.

Oth$r '$rsions o th$ saga o th$ Gnight with th$ !wan ha'$ r$tain$d this originalarrang$"$nt o th$ "oti s, although th$y app$ar co""ingl$d with $l$"$nts o airytal$s. &h$ saga o th$ Gnight with th$ !wan, as r$lat$d in th$ #l$"ish Peo%!e


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saga o !c$a , who r$app$ars in th$ 5r$lud$ to th$ Anglo/!a-on Beo#u!f , th$ old$st&$utonic $pic. $r$, h$ is call$d !cyld th$ !c$ ung ("$aning >son o !c$a >) and hisorigin as a oundling is r$ $rr$d to. &h$ old$r l$g$nd t$lls that h$ r$c$i'$d his na"$

b$caus$ as a '$ry young boy h$ was cast ashor$, as a strang$r, asl$$p in a boat on ash$a o grain (Anglo/!a-on= sceaf ) . &h$ wa'$s o th$ s$a carri$d hi" to th$ coast oth$ country h$ was d$stin$d to d$ $nd. &h$ inhabitants w$lco"$d his arri'al as a"iracl$, rais$d hi", and lat$r on "ad$ hi" th$ir king, consid$ring hi" a di'in$$"issary. 1 0hat was told o th$ ath$r now is

p. 64

trans $rr$d in th$ $owul $pic to his son, also call$d !cyld. 1 is body is $-pos$d, ash$ had ord$r$d b$ or$ his d$ath, surround$d by kingly spl$ndor, upon a ship without acr$w, which is s$nt out into th$ s$a. &hus h$ 'anish$d in th$ sa"$ "yst$rious "ann$r inwhich his ath$r arri'$d ashor$, this trait b$ing account$d or, in analogy with th$oh$ngrin saga, by th$ "ythical id$ntity o ath$r and son.

Footnotes

:9=1 *unghaus= 9ohengrin (R$cla" $dition)? ri"" broth$rs, op. cit., ;ol. , p. 3 6.

61=1 &h$ ri"" broth$rs (op. cit., ;ol. ., pp. 3 6 .) uot$ si- urth$r '$rsions o th$saga o th$ Gnight with th$ !wan. +$rtain airy tal$s o th$ ri"" broth$rs//such as>&h$ !i- !wans> ( o. 49), >&h$ &w$l'$ roth$rs> ( o. 9), and th$ >!$'$n Ra'$ns>( o. :), with th$ir parall$ls and 'ariations, "$ntion$d in th$ third 'olu"$ o inder-and Haus"(rchen //also b$long to th$ sa"$ "ythological cycl$. #urth$r "at$rial ro"this cycl$ "ay b$ ound in . $o= $owul ( all$, 1839), and in Krr$= $ntroduction to 9ohengrin ( $id$lb$rg, 1813).

6 =1 ri""= &eutsche agen, ;ol. ., p. 9.

6 = &h$ anci$nt o"bard tal$ o th$ $-posur$ o Ging a"issio, r$lat$d by 5aulusHiaconus ( , 1:), gi'$s a si"ilar incid$nt. A public wo"an had thrown h$r s$'$nn$wborn in ants into a ishpond. Ging Ag$l"und pass$d by and look$d curiously at th$childr$n, turning th$" around with his sp$ar. ut wh$n on$ o th$ childr$n took hold oth$ sp$ar, th$ king consid$r$d this as a good augury? h$ ord$r$d this boy to b$ tak$n outo th$ pond, and to b$ gi'$n to a w$t nurs$. As h$ had tak$n hi" ro" th$ pond, whichin his languag$ is call$d !a"a , h$ na"$d th$ boy a"issio. $ gr$w up into a stalwartcha"pion, and a t$r Ag$l"und%s d$ath, b$ca"$ king o th$ o"bards.

63=1 +o"par$ ri""= &eutsche agen, ;ol. , p. 3 6? ;ol. , p. 391? and $o, op. cit., p. 4.

64=1 caf is th$ igh $r"an chaffing (>barr$l>), which l$ads $o (op cit.) to assu"$,in conn$ction with !cyld%s b$ing call$d !c$ ing, that h$ had no ath$r !c$a or !cha atall, but was hi"s$l th$ boy cast ashor$ by th$ wa'$s, and was na"$d th$ >son o th$

barr$l> ( chaffing ). &h$ na"$ $owul its$l , $-plain$d by ri"" as Bienen-Wo!f

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The Myth of Birth of the Hero

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