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Cook, Arthur B.
Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 1): Zeus god of the bright sky — Cambridge, 1914

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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14695#0490

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412 The Golden Lamb in Epeiros

the inference that I wish to draw from it is this. If, about the
year 500 B.C., the inhabitants of Apollonia jealously guarded a
flock of sheep under the belief that they belonged to the Sun-god
and ensured the fertility of their own flocks and fields, it seems
highly probable that the myth of the golden lamb presupposes a
similar custom in the heroic age. The luck of the Pelopidai
depended on the safe-guarding of a particular sheep, believed to be
—if I am right in my surmise—not merely the property, but the
visible embodiment, of Zeus.

vi. The Golden Lamb in a folk-tale from Epeiros.

This connexion between the golden lamb and Zeus goes far
towards explaining a remarkable folk-tale heard by Dr J. G. von
Hahn at Kapessovo, a village in the district of Zagori to the north-
east of Jannina in Epeiros1:—

' There was once a king, who had three sons and great riches; and, before
he died, he divided his substance among his sons. The two elder sons lived a
merry life, year in year out, squandering and scattering their father's treasures
till there was nothing left and they were reduced to poverty. The youngest on
the other hand kept house with his share, took a wife, and had by her a
most beautiful daughter. When she grew up, he built for her a big under-
ground palace, and killed the architect who had built it. Then he shut up his
daughter in it, and sent heralds throughout the world to announce that, who-
soever could succeed in finding the king's daughter, should have her to wife;
but that, if he failed to find her, he must be put to death. So many young men
came to essay the adventure. But all their efforts were in vain : they could not
find the princess, and they lost their heads.

After many had already met their deaths, there came one young man, as
clever as he was handsome, bent on pursuing the quest. He went therefore to
a herdsman and begged him to hide him in a sheep-skin with a golden fleece
and to bring him in this disguise before the king. The shepherd agreed to do
so, took a sheep-skin which had a golden fleece, sewed up the fellow inside it,
gave him also food and drink and sheep's-droppings, and so brought him before
the king. The king, on seeing the golden lamb, asked the herdsman : " Have
you got that lamb for sale?" But the herdsman rejoined : "No, sire, not for
sale ; but, if it takes your fancy, I will gladly do you a service and lend it you
without pay for three days. But you must then give it back to me."

The king promised to do so, and repaired with the lamb to his daughter.
Having led it into his castle and through many chambers, he came to a door
and cried : " Open, Tartara Martara of the earth2! " Thereupon the door flew

1 The modern Greek text is printed from J. G. von Harm's manuscripts by J. Pio
NEOEAAHNIKA IIAPAMTGIA Contes populaires grecs Copenhague 1879 p. 52 ff.
There is a German translation by J. G. von Hahn Griechische und albanesische Mdrchen
Leipzig 1864 i. 124 ff.

2 'Avoi^re rdprapa fj-dprapa rrj$ 777s ! For the phrase Tdprapa rrjs yrjs cp. A. Passow
 
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