Beschrijving
The accused is set free when the judge cannot solve the riddles propounded to him. The riddles: (a) what has seven tongues in one head? (bird's nest with seven young found in a horse's head); (b) formerly I was a daughter, now I am a mother; (c) or other riddles of peculiar family relationship.
Motief
H542
R154.2.1
H79.3
H807
H806
H795
Commentaar
H542. Death sentence escaped by propounding riddle king (judge) cannot solve. R154.2.1. Son frees father by bringing riddle king cannot solve. H79.3. Recognition by voice. H807. Formerly I was daughter, now I am mother; I have a son who was the husband of my mother. (Girl has nursed her imprisoned father through a crack in the prison wall.) H806. Riddle: drink this wine which a bird took to nest. (Stork took bunch of grapes to nest; boy makes wine from them.) H795. Relationship riddles arising from unusual marriage of relatives.
Subgenre
sprookje
Literatuur
Köhler-Bolte I 46
Espinosa Cuentos II 148-151
Coffin 1
*Feilberg Ordbog I 602 s.v. »hestehoved»
Taylor RPh II 297ff.