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ATU 0516C: Alle volksverhalen

- Amicus and Amelius

Amicus and Amelius (previously St. James of Galicia). Two friends who look exactly alike assist each other in time of need. When one of them, in elder versions named Amelius, is challenged to a swordfight, the other, Amicus, who is a better swordsman, takes his place. Amelius remains behind with Amicus’s wife, and puts a sword in the middle of the marriage bed at night [T351]. Amicus wins the fight for his friend. Later, Amicus contracts leprosy. An angel tells them that he will be healed if he bathes in the blood of Amelius’s children. Amelius cuts off their heads to save his friend [S268]. The children are restored to life.
Or, because his mother had made a vow before his birth, a young man goes on a pilgrimage. He meets a friend through an apple test: a true friend is one who, when he shares an apple, takes the smaller half [H1558.0.1.1] (who notices that an apple is missing). When the friend is killed (very ill) and can be cured only by the blood of the children of the young man, he sacrifices his children in order to save his friend [S268]. The children are later restored to life.
Cf. Types 303, 516.

T351

S268

H1558.0.1.1

S268

Documented ca. 1100 as a Christian legend in Vita Amicii et Amelii carissimorum. Central motifs (true friendship, exchange of roles, the healing property of blood of innocent children) were made into a folktale in Romance-language countries. The names Amicus and Amelius are only used in the Christian legend and subsequent retellings.

516C

sprookje