UvEAlx-1: (Book I) Prologue addressed to the Almighty. Ulrich refers to the prophets Jisâias, Jeremîas, Dâvît, Dâniêl, who are testimony to God’s power. He then points out the one prophet who foretold that a bull will come from aquilô and quarrel with a ram whose horns he will break. The bull signifies a king who subdues the whole world. The Trinity is almighty, Christ redeemed mankind from sin. Ulrich asks God /Christ for inspiration. He mentions his name – Uolrîche von Eschenbach – and praises Wolfram (never did a layman speak better words). He asks Christ to protect him from the devil.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-153: Uolrîch’s source: Walther translated his Greek source into Latin. This is the story about the bull, how he came to power and defeated the ram. With God’s help, Uolrîch will be able to tell the story of Alexander.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-173: In Greece, King Philip is a good and generous king. After many years of marriage, he and his wife still are childless. He fears that he will stay without an heir to take over the reign and care for the Queen, whom Philip loves very much, after his death. She returns his love.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-212: The Queen, Olimpiades, is a remarkably beautiful and virtuous woman.

Motif References:

F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman

UvEAlx-231: At this time, the Egyptian king Neptânabus is chased away from his own country. He comes to Greece. Philip keeps him as a guest in his country, Macedonia, which is a part of Greece. Neptânabus is treated with great hospitality and generosity.

Motif References:

P 15.15 (Bm) King in exile
P 320 Hospitality

UvEAlx-293: Neptânabus falls in love with Olimpiades. He thinks of her day and night. (Love often afflicts a man like this, as he, Uolrîch, experienced by himself.) Neptânabus plans to win the queen’s favor without raising Philip’s suspicion and prays to his gods Kâûn, Apollo, Tervigant, Mahment and Vênus for help.

Motif References:

T 15 Love at first sight
V 50 Prayer

UvEAlx-397: Philip leaves to inspect his lands and to fight against his enemies. Neptânabus takes advantage of the situation and writes a letter to Olimpiades. He declares his love, describes his distress and asks her to yield to him. If she refuses him, he will certainly die. But Olimpiades, reading the letter, is resolved to remain faithful.

Motif References:

T 57 Declaration of love

UvEAlx-523: Because Olimpiades fears for Philip’s life she agrees to meet Neptânabus, reproaching him for his treacherous intentions towards her husband. As Neptânabus argues that he will die if she refuses him, she gets furious and affirms her faithfulness toward Philip. So he finally swears to leave her alone.

Motif References:

T 75 Man scorned by his beloved
M 150 Other vows and oaths
T 210.1 Faithful wife

UvEAlx-625: But Neptânabus is a magician, and he works a magical trick to get his lady’s favor. He transforms himself into a dragon and appears first in the queen’s dream, then a second time during a meal she is having with her husband. He lays his head into her lap and secretly gives her a letter he is carrying in his snout. Philip mentions that this is the same dragon that recently supported him in war. Olimpiades says that she knows him from her dream. When she is alone, she opens the letter. It announces that the dragon is a messenger of the god Jupiter, who will make love to her and impregnate her. The following night, Neptânabus in dragon’s form creeps into her room and overhears her talking about making love in her sleep. He wakes her and announces that he has impregnated her. She accepts her fate which she believes to be unchangeable and yields to him.

Motif References:

D 199.2 Transformation: man to dragon
T 513.1.1 Impregnation by magicians’s power
D 658 Transformation to seduce
K 1315.1 Seduction by posing as a god
D 1711 Magician

UvEAlx-757: Neptânabus takes his leave from Philip. Olimpiades is conscience-stricken about her infidelity and prays to God for help (like Susanna prayed when threatened by the two treacherous men). She protests her innocence, because she was seduced.

Motif References:

V 50 Prayer

UvEAlx-845: Philip is very glad about her pregnancy. He thinks he is the father.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-863: At this time, Darius is a very mighty king. He rules over Jews, heathens, Philistines. The mountains of the Caucasus belong to his country. The people of the Fontange, of Katervlange and of Trîbalibôt are his subjects, as well as the king of Samargône and many other kings. The Greek king pays tribute to him. Darius is born of divine ancestry of the great Bêlî. He is as mighty as Nabuchodonosor once was.

Motif References:

P 12.10 King is superior to all in strength, beauty, largeness etc

UvEAlx-913: King Balthasar of Caldêâ is neighbor to Darius. He worships idols and uses for the ceremony the golden cups that were once taken from the Jerusalem temple during its destruction by Nabuchodonosor. One day, as Balthasar sits among his men, a miraculous writing appears on the wall. It says: mane techel and phares. As no one is able to interpret these words, the queen advises sending for Dânîel, a wise man. Daniel says that mane stands for Balthasar’s many sins that have been counted by God, techel means that all his works have been weighed, phares says that his good and his bad deeds have been separated from each other. Later, Balthasar is killed by Darius of Asia and Cyrus of Syria. Thus the king’s impudence is punished with death.

Motif References:

V 1.11 Worship of idols
Z 100 Symbolism
V 112 Temples
H 614 Explanation of enigmatic phenomenon
F 1036 Hand from heaven writes on wall
D 1712 Soothsayer (diviner, oracle, etc.)
D 2199 Additional magic manifestations

UvEAlx-985: Uolrîch tells Nabuchodonosor’s story: He had a golden pillar erected and forced his people to adore it as a god. The king signifies greed that forces people to worship worldly goods and properties, signified by the golden pillar. Earlier, Nabuchodonosor himself was worshipped as a god. Those who refused to worship him were punished with death. Nabuchodonosor besieged and conquered Jerusalem, whose inhabitants resisted his worship. He abducted the inhabitants to Babylonia. Only Golodîas stayed behind in Jerusalem. Nabuchodonosor symbolizes the devil who forces everyone to serve him. The little group that stayed behind under Golodîas signifies those who are so steadfast in their faith that Nabuchodonosor cannot harm them.

Motif References:

V 1 Objects of worship
V 1.11 Worship of idols
Q 223 Punishment for neglect of services to gods (God)
Q 431 Punishment: banishment (exile)
P 720 Population

UvEAlx-1077: Three nobles lived in Assyria at this time: Sydrach, Mysach and Abdenagon. They refuse to live by Nabuchodonosor’s rules and advise him to refrain from his way of life. Nabuchodonosor had them captured and gave orders to burn them to death. God helped them to get out of the flames safely.

Motif References:

Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
R 175 Rescue at the stake
V 201 God
Q 223 Punishment for neglect of services to gods (God)
Q 414 Punishment: burning alive
N 817.0.1 God as helper

UvEAlx-1101: From then on, Nabuchodonosor lives humbly for seven years until God forgives him on Dâniêl’s bidding. The seven years signify the seven periods since the beginning of time that the devil (to whom Nabuchodonosor is compared, as both wanted to become their creator’s equal) has had to endure: from Âdam to Nôê, from Nôê to Abraham, from Abraham to Moisê, from Moisê until the destruction of Babylon, from thence to Dâvît, from Dâvît to the coming of Christ; from the coming of Christ to Doomsday.

Motif References:

Z 71.5 Formulistic number: seven
L 419 Proud ruler (deity) humbled – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-1155: Olimpiades gives birth to her son. Philip is very glad and gives rich reward to the bearers of this good news. Strange events at the moment of Alexander’s birth: two eagles have a quarrel, one of them dies; a hen gives birth to a dragon; in Egypt, a sheep speaks; in India, three stones fall to earth. They still lie there and verify the story. The child is named Alexander.

Motif References:

B 11.1.1 Dragon from cock’s [hen’s] egg
Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
B 211.1.1 Speaking sheep
Z 292 Death of hero [heroine]
B 770 Other fanciful traits of animals
F 989 Extraordinary occurrences concerning animals – miscellaneous
F 1099 Additional marvels

UvEAlx-1213: Philip arranges a great feast. He rewards the musicians richly with garments and horses, the nobles with jewels and gold. There are different kinds of entertainment: music (on strings – harps and videl -, on the lyre), jokes, dancing, singing, springing, falconry, shooting with the bow, the art of courtesy.

Motif References:

W 11.2 Munificent monarch
P 634 Feasts

UvEAlx-1247: Alexander grows up. Philip always believes him to be his own son.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-1259: Alexander’s education: He learns good manners and behavior and the Greek letters. At the age of 12, Aristotiles teaches him the proper conduct of a ruler. Alexander is always keen on fighting, more than on literacy. His strength is compared to Achilles. His beauty is compared to Alcîdes. He is good and just and always strives for high honors. One day, he starts to weep during lessons and turns red and white from emotional distress. He explains to his teacher that he is worried about what will happen after his father’s, King Philip’s, death, because he will be without his counsel then. Philip is old, and Darius’ subject. He, Alexander, will never pay any tribute to the Persian king. Aristotiles instructs him about the conduct of a ruler, explaining the virtues of a king at great length.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
J 152 Wisdom (knowledge) from sage (teacher)
J 152.3 Philosopher instructs youth regarding conduct
W 212 Eagerness for combat
F 575.3 Remarkably beautiful child
T 585 Precocious infant

UvEAlx-1657: The Greek king receives a horse [Pûcivâl] from one of his heathen subjects. This horse is ferocious and bites people to death. It is kept in an iron stable. Criminals who have forfeited their lives are given to it as punishment.

Motif References:

B 16.1.3 Devastating horse
G 351 Domestic beast as ogre
Q 415 Punishment: being eaten by animals
F 989.22 Animals eat extraordinary food

UvEAlx-1670: When Alexander comes near Pûcivâl, it falls to its knees. Alexander even puts his hands through the bars of the cage and wrestles with it. Alexander demands the horse from Philip. When he gets the permission, he opens the bars and bridles the horse. He saddles and mounts it. People flee. Pûcivâl is tame (tamer than the horse Parcivâl got from Ihter). Alexander feeds it on hay, and it does not touch human flesh anymore.

Motif References:

B 16.1.3 Devastating horse
H 172.1 Horse will permit only certain man to ride him
Z 201.1 (Bm) Hero’s famous horse
B 771.6 (Bm) Only hero able to tame wild horse

UvEAlx-1721: Messengers report that king Niclas is devastating Philip’s marches. Alexander asks Philip for permission to fight the invader. Philip agrees reluctantly, and Alexander defeats the enemy, riding on Pûcivâl. He captures King Niclas and returns home.

Motif References:

P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
F 610 Remarkably strong man

UvEAlx-1763: At his return to Korinthus, Alexander learns that his father has repudiated his mother on Lysias’ advice. He visits King Philip and crowns him with Niclas’ crown. During Philip’s and Cleopatra’s, his new wife’s, meal, Lysias provokes Alexander by saying that Cleopatra will give birth to a son resembling Philip. Alexander gets furious and splits his head in two with a heavy staff. Philip mourns for Lysias. Alexander sends for Olimpiades and reconciles his parents. He asks Philip to forgive him for slaying Lysias.

Motif References:

P 13 Customs connected with kings
S 116.4 Murder by crushing head
T 232 Woman deserts husband for unworthy lover [Husband repudiates wife for another woman]
P 233.9 Son chastizes father for scorning mother
Q 288 Punishment for mockery
T 298 Reconciliation of (separated) couple

UvEAlx-1813: King Darius sends messengers to collect the tribute from King Philip. Alexander sends them back: as long as Philipp was without a son, he paid tribute. Now his hens laying golden eggs have become barren. The messengers leave. P 14.15.2 Court messenger

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]

UvEAlx-1837: Darius then sends Alexander a disk, a crooked rod, a golden pitcher. In a letter, he addresses Alexander as his subject and states that the gods are on his side. He then explains the meaning of these gifts.

Motif References:

Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
Z 174 Message or orders given symbolic action
H 607 Discussion by symbols

UvEAlx-1856: Alexander reads Darius’ letter in the presence of the princes and his father. He encourages his men who become afraid by comparing Darius to a barking dog that never attacks. He gives orders to cut off the heads of Darius’ messengers but they manage to argue him out of doing so: they are only the bearers, not the originators of this message. If Darius had been aware of his greatness, he would not have been so impertinent. Alexander pardons the messengers and has them fed and given water.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
J 1675 Clever arguing with a king

UvEAlx-1901: The next day Alexander sends his letters to Darius. He interprets Darius’ presents: The crooked rod means that all kings should bend their knees before him. The disk is to signify that he, Alexander, is favored by good luck (sælde). The gold means that Alexander will be victorious.

Motif References:

Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
Z 174 Message or orders given symbolic action
H 607 Discussion by symbols
J 1600 Practical retorts – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-1931: Darius is very angry about Alexander’s letter. He sends a measure of poppy-seeds to Alexander. In a letter he explains that Alexander will find counting them as impossible as counting Darius’ army. Alexander puts some of the soft poppy-seeds in his mouth and crunches them. He says that he believes that Darius’ army is countless. His answer is a handful of peppercorns. In a letter, he says that the softness of the poppy-seeds showed the weakness of Darius’ army, whereas the peppercorns signify the bitterness of Alexander’s own army.

Motif References:

Z 174 Message or orders given symbolic action
H 607 Discussion by symbols
J 1625 Armies like seeds and peppercorns

UvEAlx-1969: Darius sends letters to summon his nobles. His brother Ocsiater advises him to send another letter to Alexander to bring him to his senses. It is an obligation to grant response to the man asking for it.

Motif References:

P 557.0.1 (Li) Council of war

UvEAlx-2021: Pausônias, who has always wanted to possess the queen, comes with 100 men, assaults and kills Philip and abducts Olimpiades. Her screaming wakes up the people and Alexander comes to her rescue. He hauls Pausônias from his horse and carries him into the castle. When Alexander sees the body of his father, he kills Pausônias as well as his fellow conspirators.

Motif References:

R 10.5 (Bm) Queen abducted
P 16.0.1 (Bm) Regicide
S 110 Murders
Q 213 Abduction punished
Q 411 Death as punishment
K 2370 Miscellaneous deceptions

UvEAlx-2067: Philip is buried in a solemn ceremony. Uolrîch does not describe the mourning as this would take too much time. The tomb is in Korinthiâ. Alexander and Olimpiades mourn Philip excessively. The queen can always be found weeping and lamenting at his tombstone. She often even faints from grief and nearly dies if she were not resuscitated by water and wine. She remains in mourning for the rest of her life. Permêniô finally admonishes Alexander to control his emotions. He has to be a good example for the people and must not behave like a woman. He had better console his mother and the people.

Motif References:

P 19 Other motifs connected with kings
T 211.9 Excessive grief at husband’s or wife’s death
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief

UvEAlx-2153: Alexander summons his people to court. He asks them to swear the oath of allegiance to him, as Philipp’s successor. They also agree to support his plan to free them from the tribute they have to pay to Darius. He is knighted and crowned in Korinthîa, where the kings are crowned and buried. He wears crown and scepter. He would even be recognized as a king without his crown because of his appearance. He is eager to fight his enemies and will reward his supporters richly. He has many wise counselors.

Motif References:

P 13.5 Crowning [and making] of kings
P 17.0.2 Son succeeds father as king
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance

UvEAlx-2248: Alexander holds council about how to deal with Darius when he sends his messengers to collect tribute from him. He wants to wage war and asks his nobles for support. Permêniô is asked by the nobles to guarantee their support. He does so and affirms that they will back their king in any undertaking.

Motif References:

P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court [
M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 557.0.1 (Li) Council of war

UvEAlx-2327: Alexander is grateful and announces that he will have an army-review in 14 days’ time. Alexander makes gifts to his followers. They start exercising to prepare themselves for warfare: they have mock battles.

Motif References:

W 11.2 Munificent monarch

UvEAlx-2351: The army muster takes place. Alexander entrusts four old and wise counselors with the care of the country. He leaves 2000 men with them. These men are: Thedalûn, the burgrave of Korinthiâ, Passigweiz, who cares for Macedô, Philodant of Nâpels (the chamberlain), Justînus, the hovegrave. This takes place at the time of the blooming of the wine (which gives much pleasure in autumn, when wine and must are available, and in winter, when people eat and drink in the taverns). Alexander then reviews his army. He summons everyone under the age of 60. Clitus tells him that he has selected 4,400 warriors. There are many grey-haired knights and 32,000 and more foot-soldiers. They are equipped with long poles, halberds, axes, clubs, small javelins, slings, swords, round shields.

Motif References:

P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court [King’s council]
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
P 551 Army

UvEAlx-2477: Alexander learns that Athêniâ, ruled by Dêmosthenes, has deserted. His approach towards Athêniâ is so quick that the Athenians can not even get to their arms and only find time to close the gates. Alexander’s army besieges the town with war-machines (trîbocken, pheterær, ebenhoehe, mangen, katzen), the warriors use tools to destroy the walls (kîlhouwen, kratzen). The besieged ask for mercy. Alexander loosens the attack and asks his counselors how to continue. Permêniô advises him to make a decision after having listened to them. Alexander grants peace and sends Duke Dîmus as mediator. Meanwhile, the Athenians are worried and reproach their duke for the hopeless undertaking. Eschinus, the burgrave, decides to offer his services to Alexander. The other inhabitants vow to follow him. He leaves for his mission and meets Dîmus. They introduce themselves and deliver their messages. Dîmus says he has come to offer peace, Eschinus admits that the revolt was a short-sighted and stupid act. He asks Dîmus for advice. The duke says that the Athenians should open the doors and grants that they will not be harmed. This happens. Dîmus gets many presents. Together they go before Alexander.

Motif References:

P 50.0.2 (Bm) Knight who acknowledges no overlord [Allegiance: loyalty and disloyalty of vassals]
R 75 Surrendering
M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
K 2299 Other villains and traitors – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-2667: Alexander speaks to Dêmosthenes. He asks him about his reasons for standing up against him. He says that he is not angry with the people, because they only followed their ruler. Dêmosthenes repents and asks for mercy. His people back him. Alexander requires 100 hostages as security. The Athenians provide 100 children and swear always to be at Alexander’s disposal. They bring him many presents. The Cycropides ask Alexander for orders. He requires military support from them, and they grant him 1,000 fighters with lances and 1,000 archers. Alexander sends the hostages to his mother.

Motif References:

M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 533.1 Hostages

UvEAlx-2761: Then, Alexander starts his war of conquest. He attacks Thebes. The Thebans are known for their ferocity and love of war. Uolrîch tells some exemplary stories: The Queen Niôbês, the wife of King Amphiôn, refused to sacrifice to the goddess Latônâ (which was a custom there). One day, she put on rich garments for the ceremony, took the sacrifice and uttered a prohibition to worship the goddess, because Niôbê would be the queen of the country. Latônâ sadly told her daughter, Diâne, and her son, Phêbô, about this. Phêbô got so furious that he killed Niôbê’s seven sons and seven daughters. Niôbê’s heart turns to stone. She mourns deeply.

Motif References:

V 11.9 Sacrifice to deity
P 29 Queens – miscellaneous
Q 221.1 Discourtesy to god punished
Q 411.3 Death of father (son, etc.) as punishment
L 419 Proud ruler (deity) humbled – miscellaneous
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

UvEAlx-2827: Another Theban king is Lâyus. It is prophesied to him that he will be killed by his own child. Then his wife becomes pregnant and a son, Edippus, is born. The king tells her to kill the boy and threatens her with death if she refuses. But the queen can not bring herself to murder her own child and decides to expose him in the woods. He is wrapped in silk fabrics and put into a vessel.

Motif References:

S 143 Abandonment in forest
S 324 Pregnant woman ordered by husband to kill child to be born
S 334 Tokens of royalty (nobility) left with exposed child
M 343 Parricide prophecy
M 371.0.1 Abandonment in forest to avoid fulfillment of prophecy

UvEAlx-2891: Edippus is found by a shepherd, Polippus, who proves to be good-hearted. He takes the richly clad infant to his house and provides him with an education (chess, shooting, strings). But Edippus strives for higher aims and wants to find out about his origin. He gratefully leaves his benefactor.

Motif References:

R 131.3.1 Shepherd rescues abandoned child
S 354 Exposed infant (child) reared at strange king’s court [at shepherd’s place]
N 841 Shepherd as helper
H 1381.2 Quest for unknown father

UvEAlx-2926: In the country ruled by Phêbus, Edippus enters the king’s service. He receives clothing and a horse. As Phêbus grows fond of him, Edippus asks him for advice how to find his father. The king tells him to turn towards Phocîdes. Edippus takes his leave.

Motif References:

S 354 Exposed infant (child) reared at strange king’s court [at shepherd’s place]
N 836 King as helper

UvEAlx-2944: Edippus comes to Dechlôn, which is ruled by his unknown father and mother. Lâyus receives his unknown son in his service. One day, he remembers his exposed son, and, feeling that the stranger is the son, gives orders to kill him. Edippus slays many of his attackers, then fights with Lâyus himself and kills him. He finally gives in to the Queen’s bid for peace.

Motif References:

S 22 Parricide
N 101 Inexorable fate
N 323 Parricide prophecy unwittingly fulfilled
M 391 Fulfillment of prophecy
N 731.1 Unknown son returns to father’s court

UvEAlx-2997: Edippus becomes king and marries the queen, his mother. They have two sons, Etiocles and Polimites. One day, when they lie in bed, the queen asks Edippus about his descent. He tells her that he has no friends and family except for her, the two children, and the shepherd Polippus. Polippus found him in a forest, where he had been exposed in a vessel, and reared him. He then left Polippus because he wanted to find out about his ancestry and search for his father. The king Phêbus told him to go to Phocîdes, and on his way, he came to Dechlôn. His love for the queen made him forget about his enquiries after his father. The queen is shocked when she realizes that he is Edippus. She tells him that she is his mother and that it was his father he killed. She is desperate.

Motif References:

H 11.1.4 Recognition by tracing ancestry
P 17.11 Slayer of king [sovereign] marries widow [daughter] and inherits kingdom [domain]
S 22 Parricide
T 127 (Bm) Woman weds husband’s [father’s, uncle’s] slayer
R 131.3.1 Shepherd rescues abandoned child
S 143 Abandonment in forest
P 210 Husband and wife
P 251.5 Two brothers
N 323 Parricide prophecy unwittingly fulfilled
S 354 Exposed infant (child) reared at strange king’s court [at shepherd’s place]
N 365.1 Boy unwittingly commits incest with his mother
T 412 Mother – son incest
N 735 Accidental meeting of mother and son
N 836 King as helper
N 841 Shepherd as helper
H 1381.2 Quest for unknown father

UvEAlx-3097: Edippus stabs himself with his sword when learning that he killed his father. The queen mourns for her two husbands and in a prayer, she asks for death. She dies from grief.

Motif References:

F 1041.1.3 Death from sorrow or chagrin
F 1041.21.8 (Bm) Suicide from grief

UvEAlx-3129: Their son, Etiocles, is chosen by lot to succeed his father to the throne. The jealous Polimites travels to Greece, where he marries the daughter of the king, Adrastus. He wins Adrastus’ support to fight against Etiocles for the kingship. They are seven nobles who attack Thebes with their armies. Their names are Adrastus from Eurôpâ, Duke Thideus, Polimites, Duke Parthonopêjus, who is said to have killed 500 men, Amphiorâus, Ipomedôn, Capanêus, who are said to have killed 1000 men. They are all killed by Etiocles’ warriors. These are examples of the warlike Thebans. Uolrîch says he fears for Alexander.

Motif References:

P 17.0.2 Son succeeds father as king
Z 71.5 Formulistic number: seven
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
K 2211 Treacherous [half-]brother. Usually elder brother

UvEAlx-3177: Alexander besieges Thebes. It is well fortified and tries to withstand him. Alexander sends Hector as a messenger to find out about the intentions of the besieged. One of the Thebans talks to him from the town walls after he has granted peace to Hector during the deliberation. Hector says that he is sent by their ruler, but the Thebans refuse to accept Alexander and advise him to return quickly, threatening him. Hector tries to argue, but they continue to provoke him, saying that he should shut up. They do not fear Alexander who had better eat eggs, return home and spin the top with the children. Hector reports these words to Alexander. Alexander says that they will avenge this.

Motif References:

P 550 Military affairs
P 557.0.2 (Li) Spy. Messenger
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege

UvEAlx-3271: When Alexander enters town, Clyades comes to meet him. He plays his lyre and praises the conqueror in a song. The gods Clôtô, Lachesis, Atropos favor him. He asks Alexander to be merciful towards those whom he has defeated, above all, because they are of his kin. He praises the generosity and virtue of Alcîdes which Alexander inherited. A mighty king whose kingdom should be lasting should be merciful. But Alexander is cruel: He kills all the inhabitants of Thebes except for the duchess who also is allowed to keep her property. Thebes is completely destroyed: the towers are broken, the remains are burned. Alexander favors Clyades because of his music. Clyades is a nobleman and fought furiously in battle. He plays music for courtesy’s sake.

Motif References:

Z 356 Unique survivor
P 428 Musician
J 829 Dealing with the great – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-3288: Philôtas, Hector’s brother, Permêniô’s son, asks the king to be the first to fight, but the Athenians oppose this, as the advance fight has always been their right. Alexander agrees: he will not take away their right to them. The Athenians are called Cycropides because of their courage and quickness.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-3329: The inhabitants of Thebes, knights and ladies, merchants and peasants, watch Alexander’s army from the battlements. The fields are covered with tents; silver lions are depicted on red fabrics.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-3351: There is one remarkable tent there: Eight golden knobs gleam and blind the onlookers. The top is of red samît fabric, embroidered with silver lions with big rubies as eyes. There are secret chambers arranged around a court. The tent has to be hoisted with windlasses. There are four towers which are kept by watchmen by night. Each tower carries a banner. Inside, Alexander sits on precious carpets.

Motif References:

F 775 Extraordinary tent

UvEAlx-3394: In order to provoke rather than to hunt, Alexander summons his falconers. They leave on a hunt and catch some ducks and herons. Alexander is elaborately dressed. His cloak is so long that it touches the grass on the earth. On his head, he wears a wreath of flowers. He is more handsome than Gramoflanz. The duchess of Thebes watches him from the battlements. She praises his beauty and courage.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-3461: Alexander returns to his camp to take his meal. Afterwards, they again move towards the town. The Macedons make music with tambourines, strings, flutes, and the young knights perform knightly exercises and mock fights, while the wise and older men examine possible ways of attack.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-3507: Alexander appoints Philôtas as leader of the armored knights and wants him to be at his side, and Nicânor and the Pellêus Antoclar as guards for the night. Alexander himself spends the night in his armor. Their fires illuminate the night.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-3535: The next morning, the Thebans come out of town. Their banner shows the goddess Pallas, her name is also their war-cry. The Cycropides prepare for the fight. The Theban duke Orestes also arrives. He is a very courageous hero and much loved by the ladies. He only serves the goddess Pallas. His beloved wife, the duchess, decorated his surcoat with jewels and silk and gold embroideries.

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms
P 557 Military customs

UvEAlx-3579: Battle begins. Eschinus attacks the duke and they engage in furious single combat: Orestes is unhorsed, but mounts his horse again, they wound each other seriously. When Orestes receives a blow that destroys his helmet, he returns to his own troop, but dies from his wound. This does not discourage his warriors. They start fighting ferociously, but they lose many men, whereas Alexander’s army has only a few losses. The Thebans retreat inside the town walls. At night, the foot-soldiers take the dead men’s armor. The ladies mourn for the dead knights.

Motif References:

P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-3674: The peasants of the besieging army attack the town walls with iron gores, sharp pick-axes, strong levers. Those inside throw missiles at them, but the attackers are well protected by their shields. The assault of Thebes lasts for 40 days. Many besiegers die, but the town-dwellers have to endure the smell of the decomposing corpses. Finally, the Macedons conquer the town. Alexander gives strict orders not to harm any ladies. The others are captured and killed. Once the town wall is destroyed, Alexander’s army enters.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-3819: So Cathmus’ town is destroyed. He founded Thebes because of the mountain there. Pallas gave the town her name. Alexander has the town rebuilt and populates it now with the most cowardly and weakest of his men.

Motif References:

Z 703 (Bm) Eponymous account of city’s founding
P 720 Population

UvEAlx-3831: Alexander proposes the duchess marry Jôram, since he killed her husband, and offers to enfeoff them with the country. The duchess agrees, but she nevertheless mourns much for her lost husband. Her tears wet her clothing. But her lips stay as red as a rose and would make the one who is allowed to kiss them very happy. Alexander arranges a big feast.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-3932: Alexander stays in Thebes to care for his wounds. During this time, the towns of Phocîdes and Dechlôn fear that Alexander might also take revenge on them and therefore assure him of their service.

Motif References:

M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance

UvEAlx-3951: One day, Darius’ messengers who are on their way to Greece to collect tribute, arrive in Thebes, not knowing that Alexander has conquered and destroyed the town, the foundation of the Gods. They are astonished that it is Alexander who accomplished this deed. The king of Samargône [Medêamanz], chamberlain of Eurôpa, has been entrusted with the collection of the tribute by Darius. Eurôpa is the name of a maiden who gave the name to this region. Permêniô receives the messengers and grants them a meeting with the king.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger

UvEAlx-3993: The tent of the messengers, carried by two camels, is pitched. It is made of blue samît and has four corners. It is embroidered with golden eagles. Two golden knobs enclose gleaming rubies that blind the onlookers. Precious braids on the seams are studded with jewels, as arranged by Dulcâmûr, the beloved wife of king Medêamanz. A pity she is a heathen. Permêniô announces Medêamanz’ arrival to Alexander after having enquired about his identity.

Motif References:

F 775 Extraordinary tent

UvEAlx-4063: Medêamanz puts on costly garments (a Jew would pay 500 marks for them). Alexander comes to meet the messengers. He addresses them in the heathen tongue he learned from Aristotiles. Alexander leads them to his tent and has them treated the best way possible. They stay there for three days before he agrees to listen to their message. On the fourth morning, Medêamanz finally delivers his message: Darius demands the tribute and wants Alexander to receive his lands in fief. Alexander refuses: He is nobody’s subject, and above all, the goose that laid golden eggs has died. He will never send any tribute to Darius. He warns Darius against his insolence. The message Medêamanz is supposed to deliver his king is the following: Alexander announces that he will wage war against Darius and swears to kill him. Medêamanz tries to advise him against this, but Alexander is adamant. He gives the messenger rich presents. Medêamanz accepts them only on the advice of one of his followers. He and his followers leave.

Motif References:

M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 320 Hospitality
P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]
P 550.1.3 (Tu) Declaration of war

UvEAlx-4263: When Darius learns the news, he swears to avenge himself.

Motif References:

M 150 Other vows and oaths

UvEAlx-4269: In spring, when the birds sing again and the trees bear leaves, Alexander leaves to war. He entrusts his lands and people to his mother, the queen. He asks her to be good towards the poor and tells the people to accept her as ruler during his absence. In tears, the queen asks him to stay, because he is the only kin she has. Alexander assures her that everything will turn out well. They take leave from each other. Alexander mounts the ship. She laments him deeply, wants to die, because she loves him so much (more than he loves her).

Motif References:

P 29 Queens – miscellaneous
P 231.3 Mother-love
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

UvEAlx-4361: Alexander’s fleet consists of about 200 warships, each of those has a barque and a galley at its side. They have lavish food supplies and the music they make is so loud that the sea turns rough and the fish get fidgety. Alexander deplores that he had to take away so many courageous men from their homeland and to cause so much grief to the ladies who suffer for the men who have come with him. But his warriors are in good humor. Finally, they perceive the Asian shores and the beautiful mountains.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-4472: From the ship, Alexander throws a heavy lance to the shore. It sticks in the ground and signifies that he will be the lord of this land. They disembark and unload their goods. Alexander and his men pitch their camp and take a rest on the banks of the river Thanais. They make music, eat and drink (many fall unconscious from the alcohol).

Motif References:

Z 100 Symbolism

UvEAlx-4501: Asia has its name from a queen who once ruled over these countries. Uolrîch’s sources say that the world is divided into three parts: Affricâ/Africa, Eurôpâ/Europe, Asia/Asia, now ruled by Darius. Asia’s extension is much larger than that of the other parts. The rivers Thanais and Mêtidôz surround Asia and are the frontiers to the other continents. The mountains of Caucasus are tributary to Asia. The forest Lignâlôê is situated there; it carries leaves in winter and in summer and is inhabited by strange cattle. Only the emperor Darius is allowed to hunt there. The rivers flowing through the region carry jewels. The mountains border on paradise. The kingdoms of Assyria, Mêdâ, Persia, Mesopotamia, Arâbî, Trîbalibôt and Tenabrî are situated in Asia. In Arâbî, myrrh and incense grow, and the phoenix gives birth to its young there. The art of logic was invented in Arabia. From India come gold, gems and elephants. Tyriâ, Sydôn, Syria, Amâzôn, Leunsnugruns, Suntîn, Celidôn, Lanzesardîn, Lididiâ, Hippipotiticôn, Yrcâniâ, Cilicôn, Armenia, Siciâ, Caldêâ, Babylonia are other countries where it is possible to have a harvest twice a year. Palestîn is another country, inhabited by the dogs of hell, the Jews, who also had Jerusalem at this time. In this region is also the town where the Virgin Mary conceived her son. Uolrîch cuts short his enumeration because it would be too long.

Motif References:

B 32 Phoenix
F 715 Extraordinary river
F 812 Extraordinary forest

UvEAlx-4573: The sunrise is announced by the singing of birds. Alexander, who has spent a sleepless night, gets up and puts on his armor. He does not wake his warriors; only seven courageous men come with him: Permêniô and his sons Philôtas, Nicânor, Hector, then Jollas, Lois (who has come from France/Frankrîche) and Clitus. They mount a hill from which they overlook their camp and the country with its fields and camps, towns and castles. Alexander says he wants to conquer these countries and to give the countries of Eurôpâ to his followers. He tells them to tell their warriors not to damage the soil or the country, which will soon be his. He and his six followers return to the sleeping army.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-4662: There are other famous knights in his army: the duke Dêmostenes with the Cycropides and the burgrave of Athêniâ, Eschinus; the two brothers Dîmus and Nicômachus, count Niclas, prince Dêmêtrius, Cebalîn, Mêtrôn (chamberlain of Greece), Tholomêus, count Aminctas. Perdicas (margrave of Budîn, which borders on Ungerlant/Hungary on one, the march of the Venêdier on the other side), Meleâger, Cênôs, Crâthêrus, Antigôn, count Jôrân of Provenz with six knights.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-4737: Gwigrimanz from Britannia lost all his goods because of his munificence and now has to travel. Other warriors are Hûbert, an Englishman, and Gâlôes, a Frenchman, who are friends; Flôriân, an Aliman.

Motif References:

P 59.1 (Bm) Impecunious knight

UvEAlx-4771: Alexander then conquers the capital town of Ciliciâ that surrenders without a battle. The other towns also submit either voluntarily or by force. He enlarges his army with indigenous knights. Then he proceeds to Frîgiâ and conquers it, taking 200 knights into his army.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering

UvEAlx-4803: Alexander then turns to Troy. The once large town now is deserted. It was once ruled by nine kings. Uolrîch does not tell any more of them, referring to Homêrus (Homer). The ninth king was Laumedôn, who ruled over Iliôn. He was very rich. He wanted to have a palace built that he named after his country, Iliôn. He offered two measures of gold to the one who was able to erect it. Two men, Phêbus and Neptûnus, introduced themselves as masons, but they were actually lords in their home country. People believed them to be gods because of a magic they worked. When they had accomplished their work, Laumedôn tried to do them out of their reward. He was killed by Achilles, and Iliôn was destroyed for this deed. Alexander now sees only the ruins.

Motif References:

M 205 Breaking of bargains and promises
K 231.2 Reward for accomplishment of task deceptively withheld
Q 266 Punishment for breaking promise
M 290 Bargains and promises – miscellaneous
Q 411.4 Death as punishment for treachery
Q 595 Loss or destruction of property as punishment
H 1199 Other tasks
K 1816.11 Disguise as carpenter
D 2199 Additional magic manifestations

UvEAlx-4850: Alexander comes onto the forest of Idâ, where Ganimêdes used to hunt. One day, he was abducted by an eagle. He became the cupbearer of the gods, an office that had been held by Êbê until then.

Motif References:

R 13.3 Person carried off by bird [Abduction by bird]
A 165.3 Cupbearer of the gods

UvEAlx-4863: Alexander reads a story about the precedence of the destruction of Troy engraved in a poplar: Paris once had intercourse with a maiden, Oeônês, at a fountain. He left her for Elena. In Pêleôn, Pêleus invited three queens (called goddesses) Jûnô, Pallas and Vênus to his wedding with Achilles’ mother. During a meal, an apple was sent to them by Discordia. Uolrîch will not speak too much about this, as Ovîdius is a more reliable source. The apple was golden, and an engraving said that it should belong to the most beautiful of the ladies. Paris was appointed as judge in this contest. Each of the goddesses tried to bribe him: Pallas offered him wisdom, Jûnô riches, Vênus love. Paris awarded Venus the apple, and Pallas and Jûnô determined to destroy Troy then. Achilles died in these battles.

Motif References:

T 71 Woman scorned in love
Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
M 90 Judgments and decrees – miscellaneous motifs
A 163 Contests among the gods
F 813.1.1 Golden apple
H 1596.1 Golden apple as prize in beauty contest. Judgment of Paris.

UvEAlx-4921: Then, Alexander perceives old graves, each with an epitaph telling the name and the deeds of the person buried there: most of them died in the Trojan war. He regrets that they lay in such a poor environment, and, standing before Achilles’ tomb, he weeps heavily, his tears dropping on his clothes. He laments the death of the hero who was felled by an arrow. He would have liked to meet him. He gives orders to prepare milk and honey and pours the liquid on Achilles’ grave, then burns incense and myrrh on the coffin. He praises the hero, whose fame endures because of Homer’s praise. Alexander wishes for someone to sing his praise after his death, because he has the intention of conquering the whole world. He mourns Achilles longer, kneeling at the grave, but finally, his warriors urge him to get up. They continue on their way to Tyrôn.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
V 65 Commemoration of death
V 153 (Hi) Heroes’ grave
Z 200 Heroes

UvEAlx-5047: Alexander speaks to his men. He says that in order to reach his aims he must entrust himself to luck. Luck is capricious and fast, like a round ball. He gives several examples: First he recalls Pausônias, who took his mother by force and killed also his father, and whom he managed to kill even though Pausônias was twice as strong as Alexander.

Motif References:

L 311 Weak (small) [young] hero overcomes large fighter

UvEAlx-5095: Another example of luck’s capriciousness was a dream he had while he was pondering whether to leave on his campaign or whether to stay. A man appeared to him accompanied by a gleaming light. He was a heavenly man, as could be recognized from his rich clothing and gleaming crown. On his forehead the name of God was written. The apparition announced to Alexander that he had been chosen by luck to subject all the countries of the world. The apparition then ordered him to get up and start his campaign, travel through the countries and defeat his enemies. The heavenly apparition guaranteed his help and told the king to spare those who are clad the way he is. Then he disappeared and left behind a sweet odor. Alexander is sure it was a messenger from God.

Motif References:

A 165.2 Messenger of the gods
A 182.3 God (angel) speaks to mortal
Z 254 Destined hero
M 361 Fated hero
H 927 Tasks set by deity [God, heavenly voice, Mother Mary]
F 969.3 Marvelous light
F 1099 Additional marvels
D 1731.2.3 (Bm) Dream of visit by god

UvEAlx-5191: Alexander and his men arrive near Tyrôn. They pitch their camp near the town, and Alexander sends Dîmus as messenger to enquire whether the inhabitants will surrender in peace or not. The Tyrôns have meanwhile prepared for fighting. Dîmus approaches the gate and talks to the knights on the pinnacles. In Alexander’s name, he requires that they accept Alexander as their king and submit to him. If they do not, Alexander will wage war. The Tyrôns say that they refuse submission but rather would like to find out if Alexander is worth fighting. Dîmus returns and delivers the message. Alexander swears to kill the inhabitants and to destroy the town. Alexander’s men make much noise and music with tambourines during the night. The following morning, they assail and conquer the town. The inhabitants are captured and killed.

Motif References:

M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 550 Military affairs
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-5286: Alexander then turns toward Jerusalem. The High Priest (clad in the same garments Alexander has seen in his dream) and the other priests come to meet him. They say that he should wear the crown in Palestîne. When Alexander perceives the bishop, he dismounts from his horse and falls stretched out prone at his feet. His men disapprove of this behavior, because they think it should be the other way around. The bishop leads him to the town gate, where they are received with music. Alexander has a part of his men stay outside, only a few hundred come with him. In the temple built by Salomon during 44 years Alexander makes precious sacrifices and prays. Alexander and his men stay in Jerusalem for two weeks. He rewards the Jews by leaving them in peace for seven years. This is the end of the first book.

Motif References:

V 112 Temples
P 715.1 Jews

UvEAlx-5374: (Book II) Prologue to Jesus, the source of wisdom. Uolrîch asks for support, because he feels that his heart has become hard, and wants God to soften it again, so that he might find mercy. He is in need of mercy to achieve his aim of writing his story about Alexander.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-5405: The news about Alexander’s approach, the towns he conquered and lands he subdued spreads all over Persia. Darius becomes afraid, since he is too slothful to fight. His princes reproach him with his cowardice in front of a child. When the King of Cilicôn advises Darius to summon the council and to raise armies, Darius sends letters to summon his kings, counts, dukes, princes. He gets military aid from them: an enormous army arrives, while Alexander ravages and pillages the country. Darius’ princes swear to support Darius and kill Alexander.

Motif References:

M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)

UvEAlx-5481: Darius has a letter written to Alexander. It is sealed twice. Darius’ messengers are welcomed by Alexander’s marshal. They are richly dressed but bring rather poor presents. Alexander reads the letter: Darius addresses him as his subject and child who does not know about the consequences of his deed. He advises him to lay down in his mother’s lap and says that the gifts he sent to him reflect his childish state: a pouch, coins, a whip and a ball. The whip means that Alexander will be hit with it if he makes Darius furious.

Motif References:

Z 174 Message or orders given symbolic action
H 607 Discussion by symbols

UvEAlx-5547: Alexander cannot be frightened by this letter, but he becomes quite furious. He gives the messengers a message to the king in which he thanks him politely for his gifts, but to him personally he writes a letter in which he gives the gifts other meanings: With the whip, he will make Darius spin like a child spins a top; the round ball signifies that he, Alexander, will rule over the whole round world; the coins Darius sent meant that the treasure he has gathered will soon be Alexander’s. He will distribute it among his men.

Motif References:

Z 174 Message or orders given symbolic action
H 607 Discussion by symbols
J 1600 Practical retorts – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-5600: Alexander’s seal depicts him in armor on a horse.

Motif References:

F 899 Other extraordinary objects

UvEAlx-5615: Mennôn acts as scout to find out about Alexander’s army. Permêniô, who is eager for combat, comes to the river Grânicôn. He perceives Darius’ coat-of-arms that is carried by Mennôn, a golden dragon and an eagle cowering before him. Permêniô tells his followers to stay behind, because he wants to find out on his own about the stranger.

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms

UvEAlx-5650: Permêniô carries a lance. A little standard is attached to its top: it is green and depicts a small woman, a sign of his virtue in honor of the ladies.

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms
Z 150 Other symbols

UvEAlx-5659: The two nobles approach each other. A page rides behind Mennôn, carrying his sharp lance. His shield shows a golden eagle on ultramarine blue background and it is decorated with gleaming jewels; this was invented by his wife, a duchess. His helmet crest consists as well of precious jewels. He is very courageous and famous.

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms

UvEAlx-5700: Mennôn and Permêniô attack each other, Mennôn is instantly unhorsed. Permêniô leaves his opponent lying in the grass and returns to his followers. Since they did not talk during their encounter, they do not know each other’s name. This worries Mennôn when he regains consciousness: he would get over the shame if he knew the name of his victor. He thinks that Permêniô left because he thinks little of his victory. Permêniô would have had the right to kill him, but he let him live. Mennôn returns to Darius and informs him about what happened and about the disgrace he had to endure by not knowing the name of his opponent, who shamed him even more by riding away without addressing him. If Alexander has more knights like that one, they are in real danger.

Motif References:

P 50 Noblemen (knights) [rules of chivalry]

UvEAlx-5791: Darius regains courage. His princes grant support. Darius has all his warriors assemble in a circle, as Xerses used to do: a ditch is run, and the men gather inside, each with an arrow. That way they can be counted.

Motif References:

P 551 Army

UvEAlx-5823: Mennôn proceeds with 6,000 men to the river Grânicôn. Alexander sends Gwigrimanz, Jôrân, Gâlôes, Flôriân and Hûbert there with 400 men. Flôriân and Mennôn fight between the armies. Flôriân kills Mennôn, then the furious battle starts. The Greeks are victorious and many of Darius’ men die.

Motif References:

P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-5879: Alexander goes to Sardîn. Uolrîch’s source, Gwalther, says that it was a town situated in a beautiful environment. The town, which was called Kordes in former times, is between two seas, the river Sangâr flows from one sea into the other. One of the seas is called Elles ponticum. From there, Alexander conquers Sardîn.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-5897: Inside the town, there is a temple that was erected by king Mîdâ. Mîdâ later grew the ears of a donkey. Inside the temple, Alexander finds a knot on a cord that was made by a soothsayer. Alexander reads on the knot that the one who manages to loosen it will become the ruler of the countries. After thinking a while, Alexander draws his sword and slices through the knot, only the cord stays intact. Even though the soothsayer actually meant that the knot should be loosened by hand, people submit to him and pay homage, swear oaths of allegiance by Jovî.

Motif References:

P 11.1 Choice of kings by divine will
H 49 Recognition through personal peculiarities – miscellaneous
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
V 112 Temples
H 150 Circumstances of recognition
F 511.2.2 Person with ass’s (horse’s) ears

UvEAlx-5954: Alexander and his army proceed to Anchiria in Capadocôn, where the kings use to be crowned. Anchiria offers resistance, but Alexander conquers the town. He ravages and burns the country, while its lord is absent at Darius’ court.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-5991: Uolrîch would like to get support from Wolfram about how to tell his story.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-6005: Alexander has meanwhile conquered Cilicôn and other countries. He now wants to attack Darius. On his way, he has to mount high mountains, and to cross dangerous forests. He is so eager to fight that he manages to travel 30 miles per day (Walther as source). Darius also is eager to fight Alexander. His army (the train has a length of six miles) moves toward the river Euphrates. The sun is blurred with the dust that rises. Tambourines and trombones make loud noise.

Motif References:

F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)

UvEAlx-6073: 10 gilded carriages, each transporting a golden temple of Jovî, are pulled by white horses in front of Darius’ princes. Inside each temple, a fire is kindled. They are followed by 12 troops of 20,000 men each. Those are different in clothing and customs. Then, on decorated carriages, a troop of 10,000 men follows who are said to be invincible. They are followed by the insolent noblemen who are dressed preciously like the ladies. They come with 15,000 warriors.

Motif References:

V 112 Temples
P 551 Army
F 773 Remarkable church (chapel, temple)
F 873 Extraordinary army

UvEAlx-6147: Darius himself is the next in the train. He travels in a carriage of gold, studded with emeralds, sapphires, carbuncles, hyacinths, gleaming rubies. In the front, in the back and on the sides sits the image of a god. Above the king, a golden and very lifelike eagle hovers to protect the king against the sun. 10,000 knights precede him, their golden and silver armor, surcoats, caparisons, spears, and jeweled helmets gleam in the sunlight. Their shields depict the goddess Vênus, indicating that they fight in the name of love. 200 knights of very high birth accompany the king. Their coat-of-arms is Amor. They are surrounded by 30,000 foot-soldiers. They have halberds as weapons.

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms
F 855.3.1 Peacocks [eagles] of gold
F 861.1 Golden wagon (chariot)
D 1620.2 Automatic statue of animal
D 1626 Image flies through air

UvEAlx-6215: Darius is followed by his mother, his wife and his children. Then 50 carriages with ladies – who will not withhold their love – come. These are the king’s customs during war: he takes his whole household with him. 600 mules and 300 camels carry his treasure. 10,000 men with shields and slingshots, 10,000 with small javelins, and a countless number of men in light armor follow.

Motif References:

P 13 Customs connected with kings
P 29 Queens – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-6247: Alexander traverses Cilicia, which has been burned by the Asians themselves in order to drive him back. Many houses, built under the reign of king Cyrus, now are devastated. Alexander sends Permêniô to Tharsis, which is already half destroyed. Permêniô promises to save the inhabitants from Darius if they submit to Alexander. They submit. Tharsis is the town where Paul (called Saul by the heathens) was born (according to Galthêrus). He made the blind see and gave the fire of love to people. Permêniô and the inhabitants of Tharsis come to Alexander who accepts them in their service.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering
P 550 Military affairs

UvEAlx-6316: Alexander, suffering from the heat, jumps into the cold and clear river Cignus that flows through Tharsis. His followers pull him out of the water nearly dead. They lament him and the inconstancy of luck. They could not possibly return to their home country without him.

Motif References:

N 380 Other unlucky accidents

UvEAlx-6421: Fortûna overhears this lamentation and laughs: everyone expects constancy from her and blames her if things do not turn out the way they want them to. But it is her nature to be changeable.

Motif References:

N 111 Fortuna
Z 134 Fortune personified

UvEAlx-6461: Alexander regains his strength. He speaks to his people, deploring his weakness, as he will surely fall into Darius’ hands. His only desire is to defeat Darius before he dies.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-6515: The Count Philippus, one of the confidents of Alexander’s father, is also versed in the field of medicine. Since he thinks that worrying will damage the king’s health even more, he tells him that he will heal Alexander if he rests for three days. Alexander follows the advice of his father’s faithful counselor and gets better. But Permêniô becomes jealous of the friendship between Alexander and Philippus. He writes a slanderous letter in which he warns him against Philippus: Philippus has sworn Darius he will kill Alexander, who will die from the remedy. Alexander reads the anonymous letter. When Philippus comes with the potion, he drinks it, but worries much as he mistrusts him a bit. He gives Philippus the letter. The count reads it without fear and laughs. He says that Alexander need not worry; he could never be unfaithful to him. He thinks that the man who sent the letter either loves Alexander very much and fears that anyone might harm him, or he desires Alexander’s death, or he wants to disgrace him, Philippus, in the eyes of Alexander.

Motif References:

P 317.1 Refusal to believe that friend will harm one
P 424 Physician
K 2129 Slanders – miscellaneous
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

UvEAlx-6624: On the third day, Alexander has entirely recovered. He summons his counselors to demonstrate his recovery. The nobles are very grateful to Philippus and kiss him. The following morning, Alexander takes a ride around Tharsis. People are glad to see him.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-6660: Alexander gives Permêniô orders to burn the march. Then he conquers Issôn. The inhabitants are killed, the town is destroyed. When entering the town, Alexander sees heaps of corpses; blood flows through the streets, the dead emit a horrible smell. Issôn lies at the bottom of the mountains Alexander has to cross in order to meet Darius, who has arrived with his army on the other side. The warriors argue about fighting in the mountains or on the plain. Alexander says he does not mind, but Permêniô gives wise counsel: as Darius’ army is much larger than Alexander’s, the Greeks would be defeated in the open much more easily, whereas the size of the army would not aid the Persians in the narrow of the mountains.

Motif References:

J 610 Forethought in conflict with others – general

UvEAlx-6710: The Persian Narbâsones writes a letter to the Greek Sisenes, asking him about Alexander’s customs and whereabouts, referring to the time they spent together in the past. Sisenes is loyal to Alexander; he hides the letter, as he wants to show it to his king in secret, but some Greeks who are jealous of Sisenes’ good relationship with Alexander find out about the hiding-place and purloin it. Alexander gets furious, and the innocent Sisenes is lost.

Motif References:

M 50 Other judgments and decrees
K 2370 Miscellaneous deceptions

UvEAlx-6767: Thymodes, a Theban, offers his service to Darius. He asks him why he has taken all his treasure with him – this will be to his disadvantage in case he is defeated; then he advises him to send back the ladies. But Darius does not believe this advice to be good. Some of his counselors tell him to take Thymodes captive, but he also refuses this, as he is bound to treat anyone well who asks for goods. Thymodes stays at his court.

Motif References:

K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

UvEAlx-6831: Darius now has a part of his army, as well as his mother, his wife and his children transferred to Dâmascus. His mistress expects him there.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-6850: The next morning Darius is eager for combat. 25 kings with their armies assemble on the field, their tents are decorated with jewels. Each of the princes has brought his lady with him. Love-games take place in the field.

Motif References:

P 60 Noble (gentle) ladies

UvEAlx-6905: There are two very precious tents among the others: The first belongs to the empress, Darius’ sister and wife, the other one, sitting on a small hill, to Darius himself. It is decorated with dragons made of gold and jewels. In front of the tent, there is a laurel-tree and other plants that emit a pleasant smell, and in the shadow of the tree, a spring rises which flows down into the valley. The hill is called Dêâlamon. It is a meeting-place of the gods and goddesses, where they have their feasts. On the meadow Dêâmaniur, heathen ladies rest who yield to love.

Motif References:

V 114 Sacred groves
A 151 Home of the gods
T 415 Brother-sister incest
T 457 Sacred prostitution
F 775 Extraordinary tent

UvEAlx-6953: Darius assembles his princes and gives them orders to arrange their battle formations. He reminds them that they were chosen by their gods, from whom they descended: Cêfalus was Jupiter’s son. Bêlûn followed Cêfalus, then came Abas, Acrîsius, Dânes, Perseus, Achanes, Ortânes. Those are bound to help them in war. He is eager to fight Alexander and mentions many countries that will provide him with military aid and that were formerly ruled by Cyrus, then by Crêsus and others. Darius then encourages them by saying that Fortûna is on their side. They fight for their own countries, their wives and children.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-7081: Darius also mentions the army of Memrôt and other armies of giants who were always eager for fighting.

Motif References:

F 531.6.9 Giants as warriors (in army)
P 551 Army
F 873 Extraordinary army

UvEAlx-7085: Darius then speaks to his princes about a dream he had. This dream, he says, means that they are going to be victorious. He saw Alexander’s army camp that was pitched in front of Babylon afire, and the expensively dressed Alexander was brought to him in fetters. When Darius started to talk to him, his opponent vanished. Darius interprets this to mean that Alexander’s insolence will vanish.

Motif References:

Z 100 Symbolism
M 302.7 Prophecy through dreams
V 515.2 Allegorical visions – political
D 1812.3.3.5 Prophetic dream allegorical

UvEAlx-7103: Then Darius swears an oath by the gods that he will pursue anyone who deserts from him with death and with hatred.

Motif References:

M 150 Other vows and oaths

UvEAlx-7109: A watch announces Alexander’s (seeming) flight. The princes arrange their armies for pursuit. But Alexander is in fact keen on fighting.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-7149: The one who trusts in God will get His help. The Jew Gêdeôn is a good example. A heavenly voice told him that he need not fear the heathens’ large army, as God intends to make him victorious. Gêdeôn wants to prove God’s support to his people. In the evening, he lays a sheep’s fleece on the earth, saying that they will defeat the enemy if the fleece gets wet from dew and not the earth. This happens. The Jews prepare for fight. Then, Gêdeôn takes the fleece and lays it down on a dry piece of land, saying that they will win and be freed from the bad heathens if the fleece stays dry and the earth gets wet. The morning after, the fleece has dried out, whereas the flowers and the grass are wet from the dew. The voice speaks to him again and tells him to fight only with a small army, thus to prove God’s power. Gêdeôn and his small army defeat the heathens and take many of them captive.

Motif References:

L 325 (Bm) Victory over superior force
V 550 (Bm) Voice from heaven
F 966 Voices from heaven (or from the air)
F 969 Extraordinary nature phenomena – miscellaneous
D 1812.5.0.13 Magic manifestation as omen

UvEAlx-7253: Darius approaches the river Euphrates. Many ships move on the water. One of Alexander’s knights has mounted a tower and watches the enemy’s army. The armor gleams, and a vast area is covered with tents and warriors. The Persian banners are carried by wagons that are pulled by camels and sea-creatures. Those are followed by elephants. The scout returns to Alexander and informs him about what he has seen.

Motif References:

P 557.0.2 (Li) Spy. Messenger

UvEAlx-7311: Furious battle between Darius’ and Alexander’s armies. Alexander fights ferociously and kills many men. Since the Persian troops speak different languages, they do not understand each other; this fact makes it possible for Alexander to fight them. Darius gives orders to encircle Alexander, but he is protected by Fortûna (who left the Persians). The Macedonians inflict great losses on the Persians.

Motif References:

P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 557 Military customs
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-7387: Tired, Alexander and his army return to Issôn. They pitch their camp. Alexander then arranges a battle formation: The foot-soldiers go in advance. Nicânor should fight to Alexander’s right side, supported by Tholomêus and Aminctas, then follow Perdicas and his troop, then Cênôs, Clitus, Meleâger with their troops. Nicânor is the leader of the army. To the left, Alexander wants Permêniô, Crâthêrus, Philôtas (Permêniô’s son), Hector (Philôtas’ brother), Antigonus, Dîmus. Alexander and his comrade-in-arms, Eufêstiô, speak to the princes. Eufêstiô is a courageous and strong warrior, even though he is very young and small and his beard has just started growing. Alexander makes an encouraging speech to the warriors, pointing out the weakness of the Persian army and promising to liberate the unfree. They should fight eagerly and ferociously. Alexander turns again to the princes and praises the luck that has always favored them. He disparages the Persian warriors, because they are dressed like women and cowardly. He says that the Greeks have to show the Persians that they are not subordinate anymore.

Motif References:

P 550 Military affairs
P 552 Battle formations

UvEAlx-7604: Darius has his hauberk brought. It depicts portraits of dead kings. His shield has seven circles, each of those describing a part of the history of the Persian people. The first circle tells about the founding of Babylon and Memrôt’s precautions against another flood.

Motif References:

F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
F 839.2 Extraordinary shield

UvEAlx-7619: The second ring shows God’s revenge of the people’s insolence: One language, Hebrew, was not sufficient in their opinion, they invented others and began to erect their building. As they were unable to understand each other, it was a failure, and God chased them away.

Motif References:

L 420 Overweening ambition punished

UvEAlx-7637: The third circle depicts Jeremîas’ speech to the unfaithful Jews. He prophesies to them that they will fall into Nabuchodonosor’s hands as punishment for their sins and advises them to surrender Jerusalem to him without resistance. Sedechîê and the other Jews took the prophet captive and threw him into the mud.

Motif References:

M 301.7 Biblical worthy as prophet

UvEAlx-7656: Nabuchodonosor avenged Jeremîas – during a fight, he caught Sedechîê. This is shown in the fourth circle. Nabuchodonosor has sworn to kill the Jews. He orders Nâbuzardas to destroy Jerusalem and to bring the inhabitants to Babylonia. He judges the Jews: Many are slain, among them Sedechîê’s children. Sedechîê himself is blinded and put into dungeon, where he is mistreated to death.

Motif References:

R 41.3 Captivity in dungeon
S 110.0.1 (Li) Mass murder
S 165 Mutilation: putting out eyes [blinding]
P 720 Population

UvEAlx-7682: Since the painter did not want to show things that are too disgraceful, he did not depict Nabuchodonosor as a bull nor the events after his death. He had a son, Êvilmôradac, who believed that his father was originally a bull and only became human through God who acted on Dâniêl’s bidding. He fears that Nabuchodonosor might return. So he follows the advice of Joachim, exhumes Nabuchodonosor’s corpse, cuts him to pieces and has him devoured by vultures. Êvilmôradac has three sons, Lâbazar, Nâbuzar, Balthasar. The fifth ring tells of Balthasar’s death from sin.

Motif References:

P 19 Other motifs connected with kings
S 139.2.2 Other indignities to corpse

UvEAlx-7718: The sixth ring shows the fight between Crêsus and Cyrus and Crêsus’ defeat. Cyrus wants to have his opponent burned, but Crêsus gets away, when a sudden rain and the flood that follows it prevent the people from following this order. His daughter, whom he tells about his escape, warns him against being too exuberant. One night, Crêsus has a dream: His god Jupiter washes his head and carries him in the air, the god Phêbus kneels down at his feet and dries them with white linen garments. His daughter interprets this dream: Cyrus will capture him and have him hanged. Jupiter signifies that he will get wet from the rain that drops on his head and flows down to his feet. Phêbus dries him with the sun. This is the end of his life.

Motif References:

Z 100 Symbolism
M 302.7 Prophecy through dreams
V 515.2 Allegorical visions – political
D 1812.3.3.5 Prophetic dream allegorical
D 1812.3.3.0.4 (Bm) Interpretation of dream by second party

UvEAlx-7761: The last ring shows the fight between Cyrus and the Amazon Tamiris. Tamiris defeated and captured him and had him hanged. These are the unjust and unchangeable ways of the world: a famous man defeated by a weak woman! This is the end of the second book. Uolrîch laments the early death of Wolfram, as he would need an advisor. He has to rely on himself.

Motif References:

S 113.1 Murder by hanging
F 565.1 Amazons. Women warriors

UvEAlx-7817: Prologue to the third book: Many ladies had to cry over the great losses they had to endure because of the war between the two kings.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-7831: On the banks of the river Euphrates, the battle starts again. The sound of the armor is so loud that it drowns out the trombones and tambourines. Arêthas of Syria and Alexander assail each other. They have both a lion as coat-of-arms. Arêthas has gleaming carbuncles on his helmet. Alexander kills Arêthas. The armies engage in battle. The war-cry of the Greeks is “Macedô”. Permêniô is Alexander’s standard-bearer, Mâzêus Darius’. Alexander and Eufêstiô kill many enemies. When Tholomêus kills Dodontôn of Mêdâ, Dodontôn’s followers attack him

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 557 Military customs
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-7955: Clitus liberates him, fighting with Ordôphilôn. They both fall from their horses, unconscious, then get up and continue fighting with their swords. Clitus finally splits Ordôphilôn’s head.

Motif References:

P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-7989: Also Mâzêus kills many men. He is betrothed to Darius’ sister and fights in her honor, every thought of her strengthens him. He kills Jollas. Philôtas, who wants to avenge Jollas, gives his horse the spurs, but as it is too quick, Philôtas kills Ôchus instead.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-8023: Ôchus’ followers from Ircâniâ now assault the slayer of their lord, but Philôtas kills more than 100 of them. Permêniô, Cênôs, Antigonus and Crâthêrus come to Philôtas’ help. Antigonus kills Phêax, Cênô slays Mîdâ and 30 other men, Crâthêrus drags Amphilicôn, who fights from a wagon, off his vehicle, and kills him and his driver. The Greeks make heaps of the corpses that float in the blood-streams.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084.1 Deep streams of blood flow during battle

UvEAlx-8079: Permêniô kills Dîmôn and passes the dead man’s horse to Ôrestî, who has lost his in combat. Then, Permêniô kills the king of Agrimontîn, Isanne (who is much mourned by his lady, Celidôn). The dead Persians are a great loss for Minne. Later, he fights with three men at once and kills them (Âgilôn, Êlân, Cherippus of Arâbiâ). Eumênidôn fights with Diâspes and Eudochiôn and defeats them. Many Persians fall at Nicânor’s hands; blood streams on battlefield. He is attacked by Edîmus, of Cyrus’s kin, but Nicânor blinds him through the slits of his helmet.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-8217: Negûsar of Ninivê (he is the nephew of the king Ninus, who erected Ninivê) wants to avenge Edîmus and kills many Greeks, among them Êlim, Actorides, Dorilum (Actorides’s son), Hermogenes. He has come with an army of 20,000 men. Philôtas assaults him and, aiming at his helmet, cuts off his left arm. Negûsar furiously lifts his axe to cut off Philôtas’ head, but this is prevented by Aminctas, who shields him. Philôtas cuts off also his right arm, and his opponent flees, running Jollas over. They are both trampled to death by the horses.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-8297: Alexander on Pûcival fights furiously. The corpses of those he kills float in their own blood. This is how he avenged Darius’ demands for tribute. The troops gathered by Exâtreus, Darius’ brother, come to death. Also many of Alexander’s warriors have died.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-8351: The Egyptian prince, Zorcas, is a very literate person, a famous astrologer and knows about divination from the stars: about the seasons to come and the harvest they bring; about the difference between human and angel song. Zorcas knows about the movements of the planets (Sun, Venus, Moon, Mercurius, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter) and their distances from one another. He knows about the course of the sun that traverses all the 12 signs of the zodiac during one year, and the whole firmament in 28 years, and about the course of the moon that needs 19 years to traverse the firmament. He knows about the distances between the 12 signs and about the relations between the signs and the planets, and about the nature of the planets and the stars. He is able to tell people’s fate. He has read in the stars that he will come to death in this battle, but nevertheless is so courageous as to come.

Motif References:

M 302.4.2 (Bm) Future read in stars
M 341.6 Prophecy: person foretells own death
D 1311.6.4 Divination by stars
D 1712.0.1 Astrologer-magician
D 1812.3 Means of learning future

UvEAlx-8431: As he knows that he is going to die in battle, Zorcas is eager to die fighting Alexander. He provokes the Macedon king by saying his mother, the harlot, begot him from Neptânabus. He accuses him of being a coward and mentions that he knows the seven arts as well as magic (nigromancî). Alexander will never defeat him. Alexander refuses to fight him, as he realizes the other man’s obvious desire to die. But Zorcas gets off his wagon, attacks Alexander and wounds him, but Alexander still refuses to defend himself. Meleâger becomes furious at this and cuts off his unprotected legs; Zorcas is trampled to death in the fracas during battle. Alexander deplores this.

Motif References:

W 11.5.12 Hero in battle refuses to slay charioteers, women or physicians [Hero refuses to slay suicidal attacker]
M 391 Fulfillment of prophecy
P 550 Military affairs

UvEAlx-8527: Darius realizes the great losses in battle. While he considers carefully whether to flee on horse or on foot, an arrow shot by Perdicas wounds him on the forehead when he takes off his helmet to have a better view. Darius instantly jumps off the wagon and flees following the foot-soldiers. One of his knights, Ausones, provides him with a horse. They cross the river Euphrates with ships and return to Babylon.

Motif References:

R 220 Flights

UvEAlx-8597: Medêamanz of Samargôn and Mathêus von dem vorste, his brother, do not flee. They attack the Greeks with their troops. Dîmus, Hûbert, Flôriân, Gwigrimanz, Jôrân defend themselves. Medêamanz attacks Gwigrimanz, who is killed, but he comes to death from Hûbert’s hand. Mathêus now wants to avenge his brother and attacks Hûbert, splitting his head through the helmet. Jôrân finally kills Medêamanz.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-8673: The Persian troops flee, and the Greeks pursue and slay them. Alexander then divides the goods they left behind among his warriors as booty and reward.

Motif References:

R 220 Flights
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 555.0.1 (Si) Booty. The spoils of war.

UvEAlx-8703: Then the warriors storm the tents of the ladies. They tear off their jewelry, many of them lose their virginity. Only a few like this, the others deplore it. The shame they had to endure from those men who defeated their king weighs heavier than the pain. If only Wolfram still lived! Uolrîch would follow his example. Uolrîch hopes that St Wilhalm of Orans pleads for him in heaven.

Motif References:

T 471 Rape

UvEAlx-8765: Alexander goes to visit the ladies. He covers his armor with a cloak and enters the tent. There he finds the empress, then Dulcâmûr of Samargôn, the queen of Celidôn, the wife of Isanne, mourning and tearing their headdress and hair. The queen of Arâbî laments, the queen of Ninivê mourns for her husband, Negûsar, the ladies of Ircânia shed many tears for Ôchus. The Egyptian queen mourns for Zorcas. The empress herself makes a long speech for her lost husband and brother and faints; she is brought to consciousness again by forcing water into her mouth. The mourning continues. Alexander treats them very generously. He has their carriages decorated with gold and jewels and serves the empress at the table.

Motif References:

F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief
F 1041.21.6 Tearing hair and clothes from excessive grief

UvEAlx-8899: Alexander then speaks to Darius’ mother and asks her to accept him as her son: he will do anything she desires, except for reconciling with Darius. Darius’ mother accepts, but she deplores that Alexander is not willing to reconcile with Darius. Alexander then asks Darius’ wife and her son to accept him as a brother. She agrees as well, but only under the condition that Darius is still alive and that they both reconcile. But if he is dead, he could no way be replaced.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings

UvEAlx-8964: But Alexander’s generous character is transformed by all the possessions he acquired during the war. He becomes arrogant and treats his loyal friends like enemies. Later, he demands to be adored as the son of Jupiter. Possessions often make a man believe he is immortal.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
W 187 Insolence [Self-conceit]

UvEAlx-9001: Alexander sends Permêniô for the treasure Darius has in Damascus. Permêniô gets orders to threaten the inhabitants with death if they refuse to hand it over. But at the same time, Mâzêus is about to surrender Dâmascus to Alexander (without the burghers’ consent). When Permêniô perceives the troop, he gives orders to fight. The two troops engage in combat. Permêniô kills Mâzêus, but is wounded as well. Ôrestes and Demetriôn fight furiously, but many Greeks are killed. When Permêniô is again able to fight, he kills many enemies, whose blood covers the earth. The Persians flee.

Motif References:

P 50.0.2 (Bm) Knight who acknowledges no overlord [Allegiance: loyalty and disloyalty of vassals]
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 2299 Other villains and traitors – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-9108: Then Permêniô takes Dâmascus by a ruse: By night, he takes the castle and kills the people there. Then he sets up his standard, a lion. When the other inhabitants realize that their town is taken, they surrender and show him the way to the treasure. In the Great Hall, where the treasure is kept, Permêniô also meets Darius’ mistress. Permêniô leaves Gâlôes behind in charge. Darius learns about the conquest of Dâmascus and Mâzêus’ treacherous behavior.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-9161: Alexander has all the nobles buried. He has tombstones with epitaphs telling of their identity, their deeds and the way they died erected on the graves. He then gives orders to fence in the field to protect it against animals.

Motif References:

V 69.1 All dead are buried after battle
V 153 (Hi) Heroes’ grave

UvEAlx-9183: On the seventh day, Alexander travels to Sîdô. The inhabitants surrender to him. The people of Fênicôn submit. Alexander adopts the Persian king’s custom and takes the ladies with him, as well as the golden temple.

Motif References:

P 13 Customs connected with kings

UvEAlx-9195: Alexander and his army come to Tyrus. The town is situated by the sea and well fortified with a wall and high towers. Tyrus is a big and rich town, surrounded by a walled moat with battlements, in which a branch of the sea flows. The town was built years ago by king Agênor. Alexander wants the inhabitants to surrender to him if they want to live. But the Tyrians refuse; they stay loyal to their overlord. Alexander has war-machines put up (trîbocken, mangen). The Tyrians defend themselves and shoot at the enemy with crossbows and missiles, killing many of Alexander’s men. Alexander then has towers erected on ships and leads them towards the town walls on the sea. There are catapults on these ships. Each tower has three compartments out of which the warriors shoot at the town. The inhabitants have to retreat. The Greeks have their war-machines enforced and shielded. They catapult fire into the town.

Motif References:

P 550 Military affairs
P 552.4 War-machines
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-9266: Fearing the fire, the Tyrians ask Alexander for peace. They want to surrender, but Alexander refuses. The burgrave of Tyrus – watching Alexander who incites the warriors, holding his lance to which a little banner is attached – decides to fight him in single combat. His wife deplores this, she weeps and kisses him. He reassures her of his love, then walks to his horse. She hands him helmet, shield and lance. The burgrave secretly leaves town. The lady mounts the wall to watch her husband.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-9367: Alexander perceives the elegantly clad knight come out of the gate and ride up to face him in battle.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-9405: Alexander and the burgrave engage in furious single combat. Lances and shields splinter, their horses fall. They continue fighting with swords, their helmets emit sparks. The burgrave’s wife watches them. As her husband receives a heavy blow, she faints, but, regaining consciousness, she continues watching. The burgrave fights furiously, but finally his sword breaks, and Alexander splits his head through the helmet. The burgrave dies. His wife dies of grief. Alexander returns to his army.

Motif References:

T 211.9.1 Wife dies of grief for death of husband
P 214.1 Wife commits suicide (dies) on death of husband
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 1041.1.2.2 Woman dies on hearing of her husband’s [lover’s, fiancé’s] death
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-9471: The Tyrians are driven back from the walls they defended when the Greeks catapult fire into the town. A part of Alexander’s men now manages to get down on the walls from the siege towers on the ships and take the castle. The inhabitants assemble at the gates in vain, when those are broken open with axes from the warriors outside. They are killed either by fire or by the warriors, others jump from the pinnacles in fear. All the Tyrians are killed, women, men and children, except for those who take refuge in the temple. Uolrîch laments that so many ladies had to die. A truthful lady resembles an angel. Uolrîch asks God and Christ for the strength to cope with the injuries of life. Many Tyrians go into the cellars and hang themselves to escape the enemy (9557). Others defend themselves. They kill many Greeks but also die. Tyrus, the town once built by Agênor, burns down entirely.

Motif References:

J 216 Choice of deaths
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-9587: Wise men said that in Tyrus, all arts were practiced. The town flourished until its destruction by the Greeks and stayed in ruins until the coming of Christ, when it was rebuilt by Christians.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-9619: Alexander goes to the town Gâzâ in Barbarîe that refuses submission despite Alexander’s defeat of Tyrus. Alexander also attacks Gâzâ with war machines. The inhabitants defend themselves by throwing missiles at them. Gâzâ is situated on top of a hill, and on one side, the Gâzâns ride down the hill, shooting at the besiegers. They kill many, but are also killed.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-9657: The Gâzâns send one of their burghers as pretended mediator to Alexander. He has a sword hidden in his staff and is supposed to kill the king while speaking to him. But he misses him. So, the prophecy of the wise men is fulfilled, who said that Alexander should not come to death like this. Lachesis protected him, but she prepared a poison which killed him 10 years later. Alexander has his attacker’s hands and feet cut off.

Motif References:

S 161 Mutilation: cutting off hands (arms)
S 162 Mutilation: cutting off legs (feet)
Q 211.8 Punishment for desire to murder
M 341.1 Prophecy: death at (before, within) certain time
Q 451.0.1 Hands and feet cut off as punishment
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 550 Military affairs
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-9689: As Alexander also mistrusts the other messengers the Gâzâns have sent, he himself leads the assault. A small javelin wounds his left arm, and his leg is broken by a stone shot from a catapult. Alexander is carried off on a shield. He encourages Thedalûn to fight; Thedalûn engages in combat with Jambrî, who comes out of the town. He captures him, and Jambrî of Gâzôn comes to death under the horses’ hooves.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-9740: Gâzâ finally surrenders. Alexander is taken into medical care, then again decides to leave. The burghers give their oaths and their hostages.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-9760: Alexander turns toward Egypt, where black people live. After the conquest, he goes to Libya. In a forest, the God Hâmôn has a temple. There, the Sarracens make sacrifices to their idol, a ram. Whoever comes near the temple will suffer.

Motif References:

V 1.11 Worship of idols
V 11.10 Sacrifice to idols
V 112 Temples
V 114 Sacred groves
A 132.14 Ram-god

UvEAlx-9785: In Libya, no fruit, nor grass, nor leaves, nor trees grow, as it never rains nor dews. It is an extremely hot region. There is only sand that gets extremely hot from the sun and when it is raised by the wind, it kills people and animals. Many men burrow into the sand to escape the heat, but they burn to death. Those who get sand in their mouths are injured badly and bleed to death internally. Many of Alexander’s warriors die, more than Alexander lost in war. They would prefer to be on the high sea where Sirtes, Caribde, Cillen (Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis) drown the ships.

Motif References:

F 709 Other extraordinary countries

UvEAlx-9825: On the fourth day, they arrive in a forest where a spring called Clitôrius flows. It is boiling hot at midnight, in the morning, when the sun rises, it is tepid, by midday it gets icy cold, towards the evening, its temperature increases again. Nearby, the people living there have erected a temple. Inside, on the altar, sits an idol of their god Hâmôn. The temple walls are hung with precious fabrics. They bring their sacrifices to the golden idol of a ram which is to be worshipped as Jupiter. Alexander and his warriors make their sacrifices there.

Motif References:

V 1.11 Worship of idols
V 11.10 Sacrifice to idols
V 112 Temples
V 127 Image of deity in wood (stone) [metal]
F 716 Extraordinary fountain
F 855 Extraordinary image
F 933 Extraordinary occurrences connected with springs [fountains, wells]

UvEAlx-9875: Alexander and his men continue their journey between Pâtelamunt and Libya. There, Uolrîch has heard, Gamuret, Gâlôes’ son, fell in love with Belacâne, the noble moor. She gave birth to his child; Gamuret left her in secret, which made her very sad. Then, the country was ruled by variegated black and white Feirafîz, Parcival’s brother.

Motif References:

T 72 Woman won and then scorned
F 527 Person of unusual color

UvEAlx-9897: Alexander goes to the capital of Egypt, Memphî, once ruled by Zorcas. Resting his troops, Alexander is informed that Darius has assembled a new army on the plain of Erbelâ, consisting of warriors, peasants, even children, and elephants, sea-creatures and camels. His new army is three times as large as the one Alexander defeated. Alexander is astonished; even although masses of enemies were killed at Issôn, it seems as if new warriors grew like wheat on the fields in Greece. He compares them to Hercules’s opponents Anthêô, whose strength tripled each time he was struck down, and the regrowing heads of the hydra. But both opponents were defeated by Hercules, and so Alexander will defeat the Persians.

Motif References:

B 11.5.5 Self-returning dragon’s head
F 610.4 Man with strength of many men
F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)
D 1833 Magic strength by touching earth

UvEAlx-9949: Alexander sends letters to his vassals, summoning them to his aid against Darius. He also tells them to bring the women, warning his men on pain of death not to harm them. Alexander has the precious tents of the captured ladies carried on board the ships.

Motif References:

W 45 Honor
C 118 Tabu- violating woman
P 552.6 (Tu) Conscription of troops: summoning allies as preparation for war
C 929 Death for breaking tabu – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-9991: Alexander’s fleet reaches Erbelâ, but the country was devastated and burnt on Mâzêô’s orders. Alexander is still eager to fight Darius, but the barrenness of the land and the moon, that turns blood-red one night, cause his men to doubt the purpose of their expedition. They secretly accuse Alexander of pride and megalomania.

Motif References:

P 551 Army
D 1812.5.1.5.2 Pale or red moon an evil omen

UvEAlx-10088: When Alexander hears this, he consults his astrologer, master Aristander, to explain the phenomenon of the red moon. After a theological discussion – there is one God who created and ordered all things – and an astrological overview of the planets and their movements, Aristander explains that every 19 years the sun’s light diminishes the moon’s shining. The sun’s greater power signifies Alexander, while the moon’s darkening means the diminishing power of the Persians. Years ago, under king Philip, the blood red moon was also a favorable omen before a battle against the Persians. Alexander has a tower erected and Aristander repeats his encouraging words to the whole army from this tower.

Motif References:

P 481 Astrologer
H 614 Explanation of enigmatic phenomenon
D 1812.3.3.0.4 (Bm) Interpretation of dream by second party
D 1812.5.2 Favorable omens

UvEAlx-10209: At midnight Alexander breaks camp and travels on, towards Darius’ army. This is the end of the third book.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-10225: (Book IV) Prologue addressed to Sâbâot. Êvâ’s sin condemned all mankind, but God’s mercy saved us. We honor His name with our works.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-10283: Alexander’s army travels on towards the enemy in fog and darkness. His way leads him through high mountains, the river Arênôsa runs down from it to Erbelâ. That day, Carafilîen, Darius’ wife, dies from grief for her absent husband, just like Herzeloyde did. The other women, her mother and also Alexander lament her death deeply. Alexander, with great virtue and compassion, grieves and weeps as if he had lost his own mother.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
P 27 Grief at queen’s death
W 46 (Li) Modesty
T 211.9.1 Wife dies of grief for death of husband

UvEAlx-10367: The chamberlain of the noble women, a eunuch from Tyriâ, secretly flees from Alexander’s camp and travels to Darius. With reddened eyes, his hair torn out from grief and in tears he tells Darius of his wife’s death. Darius falls down from grief, scattering dust on his head. He laments his wife’s death, praising her virtues, until his nobles ask him to restrain himself. In a private chamber, Darius asks the chamberlain how his wife was treated by Alexander, since he fears that she was mistreated and raped. The chamberlain calms him, praising Alexander’s honorable and virtuous treatment of the captured women: he even mourned his prisoner’s death as if all his friends had died that day. When he even swears he is telling the truth, Darius is relieved and impressed by Alexander’s virtue.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
P 27 Grief at queen’s death
W 45 Honor
T 211.9 Excessive grief at husband’s or wife’s death
R 220 Flights
P 678 Pulling out hair as sign of grief [wringing hands as sign of grief]
F 1041.21 Reactions to excessive grief

UvEAlx-10524: Darius praises Alexander’s virtue and his honorable treatment of his prisoners. He reconsiders his scorn towards Alexander and now wants to make peace with him. After telling his plans to his council, ten nobles are assigned as messengers by lot and sent to Alexander’s camp, where one of them, Achillas, delivers their message. Because Alexander’s virtue and honor has become obvious from his noble treatment of his prisoners, Darius offers peace and his friendship. Instead of fighting him in battle, Darius offers to give Alexander his daughter (who had been promised to Mâzêô) as a wife, all lands between the Euphrates and the sea of Frixêô and 30,000 pounds of gold. Darius also offers to leave his mother and son as hostages with Alexander; a ransom will be paid for the noble women. Darius has assembled a gigantic army, and Alexander would do well to accept his friendship.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
T 68 Princess offered as prize
R 99 (Bm) Ransom
P 533.1 Hostages
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)

UvEAlx-10706: Although Alexander argues that more honor will be earned by fighting against a stronger enemy, Permêniô counsels Alexander to accept Darius’ generous offer of peace: it is better to receive treasures without a battle involving heavy losses. It is time, so Permêniô argues, to enjoy the successes of Alexander’s conquests. But Alexander disagrees and sends the messengers away with this message: he never preferred treasures to honor like a merchant. The offer of ransom and Darius’ surprise at the noble treatment of the captured women is insulting to Alexander, as he always treats women honorably. On the other hand, Darius’ attempts to assassinate Alexander had not been honorable, and if Alexander accepted the offer of peace now, he could be taken for a coward. The lands Darius offers Alexander have already been conquered and made his own.

Motif References:

W 40 (Bm) Nobility
J 247 Goodness [honor] preferred to wealth
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)

UvEAlx-10899: The messengers report Alexander’s answer to Darius, who deplores Alexander’s decision to decline his offer of peace. Darius orders six of his dukes, under Mâzêô’s command, to position their forces of 30,000 warriors at a narrow mountain-road.

Motif References:

K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-10986: One of Alexander’s nobles, Eufêstiô, leaves the camp, eager for a fight to prove his virtue. At a vantage point he meets the moor Sêren of Trîbalibôt, one of Darius’ dukes, who is also looking for a fight. In the following joust, their shields and lances shatter; Sêren is wounded in the arm and falls off his horse. The victorious Eufêstiô leaves, and Sêren rides back to Darius, his green garments reddened by his own blood. When the moor accuses Darius of inactivity, Darius promises to avenge Sêren’s defeat in battle.

Motif References:

M 161.2 Vow to revenge (king, friends, father, [husband, queen]) (or die)
W 212 Eagerness for combat
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-11105: Meanwhile, Alexander prepares a grave for Darius’ wife; she is embalmed and laid to rest in a grave of yellow marble in the mountains. Apelles, a Hebrew artist and knight, furnishes the grave with a painting, based on the Jew’s holy scriptures.

Motif References:

P 683 (Bm) Embalming
F 778 (Bm) Extraordinary tomb

UvEAlx-11130: Description of Apelles’ painting: Genesis retold. World’s creation in seven days, creation of man on sixth, God rests on seventh day. Creation of Eve from Adam’s rib, the Fall of man, provoked by the devil in serpent form. Cain’s murder of his own brother, Abel, the corruption of mankind and the Deluge, survived only by the creatures in Noah’s ark. Noah’s naked drunkenness and his son Ham’s mockery.

Motif References:

A 63.6 Devil in serpent’s form tempts first woman
S 73.1 Fratricide
W 154 Ingratitude
P 233 Father and son
A 601.2 Universe created in six days
A 610 Creation of the universe by creator- The creator is existing before all things
A 1021 Deluge: escape in boat (ark)
A 1210 Creation of man by creator

UvEAlx-11287: Further description of Apelles’ painting: Abraham’s story retold. Account of Jacob’s story: Jacob cheats his brother of his father’s blessing; dream of Jacob’s ladder and of the fight with an angel, who breaks his hip. (This explains why the Jews remove all veins from the meat they eat. (sic!)). Jacob has children with his barren wife’s maid, and 12 children with Rachel, his second wife and Lyam’s sister. Account of Joseph’s story: Joseph, exiled from his land and imprisoned, earns the Pharaoh’s gratitude as interpreter of dreams in Egypt, meets and forgives his brothers.

Motif References:

S 210.1 Child sold into slavery
V 230.3 Angel and mortal struggle
A 666 Ladder to heaven
N 733.3 Joseph and his brethren
A 1681.2 Why Jews do not eat pork [origin of food tabu]
D 1712.3 Interpreter of dreams
K 1839.11 Disguise as older brother to obtain blessing

UvEAlx-11399: Continued description of Apelles’ painting: the destruction of Babylon, ten biblical plagues of Egypt, Moses leading the Jews through the desert, manna from heaven, the ten commandments. Stories of Samson, Ruth and finally David (ancestor of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ).

Motif References:

Z 71.16.2.1 Ten plagues
D 1031.0.1 Manna. Food from skies in basket each morning

UvEAlx-11507: The description of Apelles’ painting continues: stories of Samuel, Êly, Saul and David: his fight against Goliath, his enmity with Saul, Bersabê (Bathseba) and David’s betrayal of Uria, his battles against his sons. Furthermore, stories of Salomon, Nabôt, Jesabel amd Helîas (Elias). Short account of the lives of prophets (Ezêchiâ, Josîâ, Isâias, Dâniêl) and a brief mention of Cyrus, Hester (Esther), Tobias and Judith.

Motif References:

M 301 Prophets
L 311 Weak (small) [young] hero overcomes large fighter

UvEAlx-11821: At the outpost, Eumênidô and Mâzêus meet. Both have come to scout out the enemy. Mâzêus’ helmet is decorated with an image of Bêlî, the Babylonian god. A furious battle begins between the two knights, observed by both armies. Exhausted from the long battle, Mâzêus accidentally drops his sword, but Eumênidô spares his life, as it would be dishonorable to slay an unarmed opponent. The knights ask each other’s names, and Mâzêus vows to welcome and reward noble Eumênidô as his guest in Babylon. Both return to their armies, telling their lords of the proximity of the enemy.

Motif References:

W 45 Honor
M 168.1 Vow not to deceive the man who spared one’s life
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-11953: Darius addresses his nobles, encouraging each of them separately to fight bravely in the coming battle. Aristêmonês of Crêtês, Eliphat of Egypt, Pharôs of Cyriâ, Enôs of Elamîe, Kânaân of Frîgiâ assure him of their loyalty and eagerness for battle. All in all, they have 95,000 warriors under their command.

Motif References:

W 34 Loyalty
W 212 Eagerness for combat
F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)

UvEAlx-12073: The savage king Geôn also adds his army to Darius’ forces. He is the son of a moor and a giantess, his skin his partly black and partly white. He is as tall as a giant and fights on foot, armed with a large club. His warriors ride on sea-creatures (merrinder).

Motif References:

F 527 Person of unusual color
F 531 Giant
F 531.4.5.1 Giant with iron club [pole] as weapon
F 531.2.7 Giant so large he cannot be carried by a horse
B 557 Unusual animal as riding horse

UvEAlx-12113: Darius addresses Mêthâ of Dâmazôn and his two sons, and encourages his brother, Exâtreum, to avenge the death of the empress in Greek captivity. Even the victory over Alexander will be overshadowed by the loss of Darius’ wife. Exâtreum assures Darius that her death will be avenged; Darius gives him command over another large part of his armies. Darius rewards all his nobles richly for their aid in the coming battle. Such generosity is unknown to the Bavarians, who are known to be greedier than the Jews.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity

UvEAlx-12287: Darius is armed for the battle in marvelously exquisite armor; his bow is decorated with red carbuncles, he also gets a new shield for the one he lost in flight, decorated with the image of a chariot. It shines so brightly that it even lightens up the night.

Motif References:

F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
F 824.2 Extraordinarily painted shield
F 839.2 Extraordinary shield

UvEAlx-12315: Darius’ enormous army covers the field and valley; the gold and jewels of his warriors’ weapons and amour shine so brightly that weak eyes could not stand to look at it. The sound of the countless horses, sea creatures and other animals of the army hurts the ears. It seems as if the whole world has risen to oppose the Greeks, and even if they had all been giants, the enormous number of enemies would have terrified them. The sun sets early this evening, reluctant to shed its light on the bloodshed to come. Alexander’s warriors are eager to attack, but Alexander orders them to hold back and has a hill fortified for the night’s camp.

Motif References:

F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)

UvEAlx-12385: A part of Alexander’s warriors is terrified of Darius’ superior numbers, but Alexander himself reassures his men. Permêniô suggests attacking the enemy at night, to have the advantage of surprise. Darius’ forces, so he argues, may win because of their larger number, like a pack of dogs often kills stronger animals, and the Greeks’ horses might also balk at the Persians’ exotic animals in daylight. The other nobles agree, but Alexander rejects this: he would rather be defeated than win in such a dishonorable manner.

Motif References:

W 45 Honor
J 216.5 Early death with fame preferred
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-12477: Darius, fearing an attack by night, has many guards posted and lights fires. The gleaming of the Persians’ weapons and armor brightens the night better than fires and the stars. Both Darius and Alexander are sleepless that night, pondering about the next day’s battle.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-12507: Allegory of victory: there is a palace of bright marble in Rome, embraced by the waters of the Tiber. It rests on four columns and has the ability to disappear from the one who desperately seeks it; it is found only by chance. Victôria is the mistress of this palace. It has a thousand precious doors, and its walls are decorated with jewels; the ceiling is made of translucent stones. If a stone, however small, is cast against the palace, it resounds so loudly that it can be heard in all the world. The doors, guarded by greed personified, close by themselves. Surrounded by noble ladies, who sing and play instruments, and kings crowned with laurel (as it is custom with Roman kings), sits the winged Victôria, who gives jewels and gold to all her visitors. Beside her are lady Mâjêstas (majesty), lady Êre (Honor), lady Justice, lady Patience, lady Wealth (who is often insolent and haughty) and finally lady Concordiâ. On Victôria’s left side are the “Yes-men”, who blindly agree and affirm everything she says, and fickle Gunst (Favour); finally, there is the god Spot (mockery).

Motif References:

Z 110 Personifications
Z 132.1 Victory personified
Z 139 Personifications – miscellaneous
V 515.2 Allegorical visions – political
F 771 Extraordinary castle (house, palace)

UvEAlx-12667: Victôria, aware of Alexander’s worry and sleeplessness, tells Êre of her concerns. She flies to her friend Slâf (sleep) and asks him to help Alexander find sleep before his battle. He obeys, and Alexander sleeps peacefully until noon, until his men, anxious for battle and bewildered by Alexander’s long slumber on this day, send Permêniô to wake him. Alexander orders his men to have lunch and then to prepare for the battle.

Motif References:

Z 139 Personifications – miscellaneous
K 2378.5 Hero sleeps during the first part of battle and emerges only later [Hero sleeps late on day of battle]

UvEAlx-12743: After lunch, the warriors prepare for the battle. Armored, Alexander jumps on his horse and rides through the camp to embolden his men. He advises them to let the hostile chariots pass through their ranks unopposed, and then to shower them with arrows.

Motif References:

P 552 Battle formations
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-12787: A Persian page tells Alexander of mantraps laid on the battlefield; he is promised a reward if his words are proven to be true.

Motif References:

P 557.0.2 (Li) Spy. Messenger
K 2250.1 Treacherous servant
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-12801: Alexander addresses his battle-ready army; he reminds them to avoid the mantraps and encourages his warriors to fight bravely against the decadent and weak enemy. He reminds the Greeks of his own bravery in battle, always fighting in the first row and never turning to flee. The day is spent in preparation, and the next morning, before dawn, Alexander’s army rides towards the battlefield. The two extravagantly equipped armies advance towards each other, the noise quieting all birds. End of book four.

Motif References:

P 12.5 Good king never retreats in battle
P 14 Particular practices of kings
W 32.2 (Bm) Refusal to flee from danger
W 32 Bravery

UvEAlx-12903: Prologue to Book V: example of God’s help against superior enemies. King Saul promises his daughter to anyone able to defeat the giant Gôliâ, who has the strength of 10,000 men. David, a young herdsman, offers his services, but refuses to wear Saul’s battle-armor, as it renders him immobile. Armed with only his staff, a sling and five stones, David confronts the giant, who ridicules his small size and his weapons. But Dâvît pierces the giant’s skull with five shots of his sling, delivering his head to king Saul, who kept his promise but is jealous of David’s ensuing fame.

Motif References:

T 68 Princess offered as prize
L 310 Weak overcomes strong in conflict
L 311 Weak (small) [young] hero overcomes large fighter
H 335.4 Suitor task: to defeat enemies
F 531 Giant
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 610.4 Man with strength of many men

UvEAlx-13013: Many lovely ladies and maidens have to grieve the loss of their loved men in battle; the same can be said of many heathen ladies, whose only flaw is their lack of baptism. The author praises all worthy ladies, heathens or Christians; every hero whoever wins a virtuous lady’s heart may be called a happy man indeed.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-13051: Battle between Greeks and Persians (13051-14181). The author’s source tells him that the battle took place at the end of April, on the first summer’s day; but all the sweetness of May is tainted by the terrible bloodshed of the battle.

Motif References:

P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War

UvEAlx-13067: The Indian king Aristêmonês of Crêtês and his moorish warriors are the first to fight Alexander. Aristêmonês rides a mighty war-elephant, spurring it on with a jeweled lash; his battle-cry is “Tabrôn”, the name of his lady. In the furious battle Alexander cunningly kills Aristêmonês’ elephant, piercing its mouth and throat with his spear, and then decapitates the Indian king.

Motif References:

B 268.3 War-elephants
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-13130: The Indians fight to avenge the death of Aristêmonês; the battle is furious. Alexander and his warriors break through the ranks of Indians to face king Eliphat of Egypt and king Pharôs of Ciriâ and their armies. Alexander, in the first row of his men, kills countless enemies and the two enemy kings himself; rivers of blood cover the field of battle.

Motif References:

P 14 Particular practices of kings
F 1084.1 Deep streams of blood flow during battle
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-13242: The giant Geôn and his army are the next to oppose Alexander and his warriors in battle. The giant’s voice is as loud as a battle horn, and he assaults Alexander on foot, killing many Greeks with his iron club, often fifteen men are killed with a single blow. When the giant addresses Alexander to boast of the giant race’s might (they even fought against Jupiter), Alexander hurls his spear into his mouth, fixing Geôn’s tongue to his palate. Alexander attacks the muted giant on Pûcival, dodging his club, and topples Geôn. His fall kills many men and causes the earth to shake and the trees of a nearby forest to fall down. Lying on his back he is pierced by countless swords and spears, but still manages to kill a hundred Greeks before his death. His army is defeated after a hard battle.

Motif References:

W 117 Boastfulness.
F 531 Giant
F 531.4.5.1 Giant with iron club [pole] as weapon
F 531.3.8.5 Earthquake as giant falls down
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 556 Remarkable voice
F 628.2.1 Strong man kills many men at once
F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-13337: Alexander leaves the battlefield to rest his horse Pûcival for a short while. Although countless enemies have been killed, Darius’ armies seem as enormous as before. Alexander wonders if his enemies are immortal and return to fight him again, but nevertheless charges back into battle.

Motif References:

F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)

UvEAlx-13361: The armies of Enôs of Elamîe and Kânaân of Frigiâ replace the Greeks’ killed adversaries on the battlefield. Enôs kills the brave Greek noble Esipholus with his ax; Philôtas avenges his death by attacking the two kings at the same time, finally killing them. Philôtas excels in battle, killing 2,000 enemies on his own.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-13429: The Greek Clitus is the brother of Alexander’s wet nurse (short comment of the author on the advantages of virtuous wet nurses for the education of noble children). Fighting the three armies of Mêthâ of Dâmazôn and his two sons Sanga and Triphôn, Clitus first kills the two sons in single-combat; Mêthâ curses and insults Clitus, who wards off the old king’s attack with ease. Angered, Clitus also kills Mêthâ, who falls down to rest with his slain sons. The field around him is so scattered with corpses that he even has trouble moving away from the place.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-13581: Nicânor sees Darius’ chariot and armor shine brightly through the ranks of the enemy, and charges Darius’ baggage train consisting of some thousand Persians with his troop. In single combat against Rennôn of Arâbiâ both knights wear out their spears, shields, horses and armor. Finally the Greek kills Rennôn, but is severely wounded himself. Nevertheless, he still kills countless Arabs, putting the rest of Rennôn’s troop to flight. The count of Kalach reprimands the fleeing warriors and orders them to fight Nicânor, who meanwhile hastily bandages his wounds with strips torn from his clothes. Wounded and horseless, the Greek still kills countless enemies, before the count’s javelin finally kills him.

Motif References:

W 32 Bravery
L 325.1 (Bm) Victory over superior force: one against many
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 551.4 Hero drives retreating warriors back into battle
F 614.10 Strong hero fights whole army alone

UvEAlx-13781: Alexander laments Nicânor’s death loudly, weeps and praises the fallen hero, while absent-mindedly killing a hundred enemies. The young Persian prince Fidias, designated husband of Darius’ sister, repeatedly attacks the diverted Alexander, until Eufêstiô kills him. Permêniô, also grieving at Nicânor’s death, kills countless enemies.

Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men

UvEAlx-13919: King Affer attacks Alexander, who is shaken from his lament of Nicânor’s death. In a straight line Alexander charges towards Darius, killing Affer, Lîsias, Emulôn and Baridach. All the Greeks fight bitterly, causing many ladies to shed tears over the death of their husbands and lovers.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-13987: Darius fights from his chariot, killing many Greeks with his bow. The Persian heroes fight bravely, and many Greeks are killed at a ford of the river Arenôsa. From noon until evening the Persian armies have the advantage over Alexander. The field is colored red by the blood, countless Persians and many Greeks are killed. A third of the Greeks lie dead, but thirty times as many of the enemy have been slain by Alexander and his men. Alexander spurs his men to bravery, and tide of the battle turns in Alexander’s favor.

Motif References:

N 130 Changing of luck or fate
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-14105: Darius despairs and laments the reversal of fortune. He regrets the loss of so many lives and fears the hatred of the widows and orphans. Finally he turns to flee on horseback and crosses the river Erbelâ. His army follows in retreat, pursued by the Greeks. After some consideration he leaves the bridge over the river Lincus intact for his army to follow him.

Motif References:

R 219 Escapes – miscellaneous
R 220 Flights
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
J 755 All aspects of a plan must be foreseen

UvEAlx-14181: Alexander leads the pursuit of the fleeing enemy; even more enemies are killed during the pursuit than had been killed in the battle. Thirsty from the battle, many of the fleeing Persians drink from the undrinkable and harmful waters of the Lincus; many more fall from the narrow bridge and drown.

Motif References:

R 260 Pursuits
N 332 Accidental poisoning

UvEAlx-14219: At sunset, the victorious Alexander orders his warriors to rest in their camp. A messenger from Permêniô also tells Alexander of a Greek victory and of many captives.

Motif References:

R 5 Capture on field of battle
L 325 (Bm) Victory over superior force
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-14243: As Alexander and his warriors have already settled to sleep, the Persian Exâtreus attacks with his army. In a joust, Alexander kills his assailant. Permêniô arrives with his troops and a hard battle is fought until it is too dark to see. Finally the Persians flee.

Motif References:

R 220 Flights
K 810.1 (Bm) Ambush
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-14318: The fleeing Persian warriors arrive at the plain of Erbelas, where Darius laments his defeat. Never before has a ruler lost so many men and lands in a battle. The gods have favored Alexander with victory in battle; fortune is fickle, as history teaches (Cyrô defeated Crêsus after he had been put to flight in a previous battle). Nevertheless, Darius announces that he will face Alexander in battle again; maybe luck will be on his side, and it is still better to die than to live in shame. Defeated, Darius and the remains of his armies travel to the land of Bractân.

Motif References:

J 227.2 Death preferred to dishonor

UvEAlx-14413: The spoils of battle are enormous for Alexander and his warriors.

Motif References:

P 555.0.1 (Si) Booty. The spoils of war.

UvEAlx-14427: Alexander travels through Syria, whose inhabitants readily subject themselves to his rule. Arriving in Babylon, Mâzêus approaches the Greeks and surrenders his city and his services to Alexander, although the city would have resisted even a long siege.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering

UvEAlx-14467: Triumphant reception of Alexander and his army in Babylon. The city is decorated, precious carpets are laid on the streets, exotic scents and spices fill the air. Countless beautiful women and maidens watch the scene from the windows and in the streets. The citizens wear their most precious robes, exotic animals are paraded, many instruments are played (the author’s special praise goes to the fiddle). No ruler in history was ever welcomed as triumphantly as Alexander in Babylon: neither Augustus after his capture of Anthiochus in Rome, nor Julîus after defeating Pompejus.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-14497: The clothes Alexander wears at his reception in Babylon are presents from queen Candacis, who has fallen in love with Alexander, although she has never seen him. She has made these clothes herself, and they are elaborately decorated with jewels and her name and image. Alexander returns her affection and yearns to be her knight.

Motif References:

T 11 Falling in love with person never seen
T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
H 82.3 Tokens between lovers
F 821 Extraordinary dress (clothes, robe, etc.)

UvEAlx-14691: Alexander has in his young age achieved more than any king before and after him. All other kings envy his success in battle, his wisdom and virtue.

Motif References:

P 12.10 King is superior to all in strength, beauty, largeness etc

UvEAlx-14721: Like it was prophesied, Babylon is now ruled by one who defeated Persia and the Mêdôs. The author praises Babylon’s new ruler, but fears misfortune from the army’s stay in the city. For 40 days the Greeks stay in Babylon, succumbing to sloth and luxury. Finally, Alexander urges his warriors to leave and face Darius in battle again. End of book five.

Motif References:

W 111 Laziness
M 391 Fulfillment of prophecy

UvEAlx-14789: Prologue of book VI. May God help the author and keep him from hell and have mercy on poor Uolrîch.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-14839: Alexander and his warriors leave Babylon. It is Alexander’s custom to signify the time of departure to his army by erecting a long pole, instead of the usual sound of trumpets. It is also his custom to richly reward his vassals (each of his men has 1,000 men to serve him). Thus, his retinue grows, because he is just and generous. Theodosîus was praised by the Romans because he forced his captives to obey and follow him, but Alexander is even more praiseworthy, since his followers came to him without force.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 12 Character of kings
P 14 Particular practices of kings
Q 42 Generosity rewarded

UvEAlx-14903: Alexander arrives at the city of Sûsâ; the inhabitants surrender without a fight and give many presents to the Greeks.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering

UvEAlx-14917: Alexander takes his army to the well-fortified city of Uxiâ; the burgrave, Medates, is a brave and loyal knight. When Alexander demands the city’s surrender, Medates refuses, remaining faithful to his oath to Darius.

Motif References:

W 34 Loyalty

UvEAlx-14943: Treacherous citizens of Uxiâ tell Alexander of a secret passage through the mountain into the city, and Alexander sends Thaurôn with warriors to enter the city secretly that way. Alexander starts to besiege Uciâ with various war-machines, but the citizens defend themselves bravely. When Thaurôn and his warriors start to attack the defenders from inside the city, a delegation of 30 citizens is sent to Alexander to parlay. At first Alexander refuses to accept the surrender and announces that he will destroy the city and kill all inhabitants, but Medates secretly sends messengers to Sisîcâmis, Darius’ mother, and she is able to persuade Alexander to show mercy. Alexander not only spares Uxiâ and its inhabitants, but also generously grants everlasting freedom from tribute.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
W 11.5.5 Conqueror spares city
Z 316 Only one way to besiege certain city [castle]
M 500 (Bm) Threats
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-15121: Alexander sends Permêniô with the main part of the army to search for Darius. He himself takes 3,000 warriors and travels through the mountains. On the narrow passages many animals and warriors fall to their deaths, wild animals also attack the army. In the mountains, Alexander finds a monstrous people: they have no neck, their eyes and mouths are extremely large, and their rump is short compared to their long legs, which reach up to their armpits. They have hedge-hog bristles and a thick hide, their long ears grow out of their cheeks. They are fast and attack with long iron-spiked clubs, and although a single Greek kills a thousand of these creatures, they harm Alexander’s army severely. Defeated, the remainders of the monstrous race surrender and are accepted as warriors in the army.

Motif References:

R 74 Defeated warriors [adversaries] go into [are forced to join] the conqueror’s service
F 510.1 Monstrous races
F 511 Person unusual as to his head
F 511.2 Person unusual as to his ears
F 511.1 Person unusual as to his face
F 512 Person unusual as to his eyes
F 513 Person unusual as to his mouth
F 517 Person unusual as to his legs
F 517.0.2 Long-legged people
F 521.1 Man covered with hair like animal
F 548 Remarkable legs
F 559.5 Remarkable neck
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-15200: Leaving the mountains, Alexander notices Darius’ army fleeing from Permêniô’s forces. In the ensuing battle all Persians are killed, Darius alone manages to flee.

Motif References:

R 220 Flights
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-15273: The next morning, Alexander breaks camp and takes his exhausted warriors over the river Adrax to the magnificent city of Persepolis. The destroyers of Troy once assaulted the city with 1,500 ships of war without victory, and only a hundred survived. Xerses also besieged the city without success. Persepolis is cleverly defended by water on all sides, because the citizens have directed the sea’s waters in deep moats around their city.

Motif References:

K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-15320: Permêniô has already taken heavy losses laying siege to the fortified city of Persepolis when Alexander arrives. 3,000 Greeks have been captured and mutilated by the city’s defenders, by cutting off their noses, ears, tongues or lips. All captives are branded with the sign of “thau” before being released. When Alexander sees the mass of mutilated warriors, he weeps with compassion and swears to kill the culprits.

Motif References:

R 51.3 Prisoners mutilated
S 160 Mutilations
M 161.2 Vow to revenge (king, friends, father, [husband, queen]) (or die)
S 163 Mutilation: cutting (tearing) out tongue
S 166.5 Mutilation: chin and lips cut off.
S 168 Mutilation: tearing [cutting] off ears
S 172 Mutilation: nose cut off or crushed
Q 451 Mutilation as punishment
Q 472 Branding as punishment
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege

UvEAlx-15369: In their impudence the citizens of Persepolis have left the ships and boats of previous attackers unharmed. Alexander and his army cross the waters and immediately the enemies attack them on the shore outside the city walls. A furious battle rages, Filôtas pursues a group of fleeing citizens into the city and takes the battle to the streets of Persepolis. Permêniô has the drawbridge raised, preventing the retreat of rest of the defenders. All defenders are killed, not even women and children are spared.

Motif References:

S 110.10 (Bm) City and inhabitants willfully destroyed
W 187 Insolence [Self-conceit]
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
J 651 Inattention to danger
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-15439: The city of Persepolis is plundered and destroyed, the temple is ransacked. The temple’s gold, which came from Asia’s nobles, is taken, the Greeks quarrel over and break many precious pieces of art as they divide the loot.

Motif References:

P 555.0.1 (Si) Booty. The spoils of war.

UvEAlx-15475: After the battle Alexander addresses his men, thanking them for their loyalty and tearfully lamenting the mutilation of his men. He offers the mutilated men two choices, to either head home with a handsome reward for their services, or to stay with Alexander and be treated as honorably as any other healthy warrior.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
J 200 Choices

UvEAlx-15513: Two of the mutilated warriors, Euticiôn and Têcius, address their fellow-sufferers in a speech. While Euticiôn argues that their wives and friends may shun them, urging the men to stay with Alexander, Têcius praises the constancy of true friendship and love. He argues that it is better to live with a wife and relatives at home, even disfigured like them, than to remain in the misery of foreign lands and battles. Most men choose to stay with Alexander. He rewards them with lands and treasure and continues to pursue Darius to Bractanâ.

Motif References:

J 215 Present evil preferred to change for worse
J 217.0.1 Unsatisfactory life preferred to death [danger of death]
J 227.2 Death preferred to dishonor

UvEAlx-15765: Meanwhile, Darius attempts to summon troops for another battle in Bractâ. The virtuous nobleman Bêliur is the first to offer his help, and Darius confirms his decision to face Alexander again. His nobles, loyal to their oaths, agree to support their emperor in battle.

Motif References:

W 34 Loyalty
P 552.6 (Tu) Conscription of troops: summoning allies as preparation for war

UvEAlx-15909: However, not all of Darius’ vassals are loyal: Bessus and Narbâsones, Darius’ chamberlains, treacherously plan to capture Darius and deliver him to Alexander. If they should manage to defeat Alexander, they agree to divide Darius’ empire between the two of them.

Motif References:

K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

UvEAlx-15965: Narbâsones and Bessus approach Darius, urging him to give them crown and empire. Angrily, Darius draws his sword, causing the two traitors to flee. Archâbatus, a trusted noble, persuades Darius to ignore their insolence, and speaks to Bessus and Narbâsones himself. They claim to regret their behavior and promise to be loyal.

Motif References:

P 50.0.2 (Bm) Knight who acknowledges no overlord [Allegiance: loyalty and disloyalty of vassals]
W 187 Insolence [Self-conceit]

UvEAlx-16059: At dawn, Darius inspects his troops on horseback. He has 6666 warriors under his command. Bessus and Narbâsones kneel before him, and he forgives them.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 551 Army

UvEAlx-16097: Pâtrôn, a Greek noble, deserts from Alexander and informs Darius that Bessus and Narbâsones intend to murder him. But Darius trusts his vassals again, and despite Pâtrôn’s assertions, he refuses to believe him. The two accused Persians want to fight the Greek to redeem themselves, but Darius refuses. Pâtrôn returns to Alexander, and is gladly welcomed back with presents.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 50.0.2 (Bm) Knight who acknowledges no overlord [Allegiance: loyalty and disloyalty of vassals]
P 317.1 Refusal to believe that friend will harm one

UvEAlx-16167: Darius addresses his nobles the next morning after a sacrificial ceremony in Jupiter’s temple. He promises rich rewards for all who fight with him, and his vassals assure him of their loyalty, even without a reward. End of book VI; Uolrîch laments the fate of the noble Darius and praises his virtue.

Motif References:

W 34 Loyalty

UvEAlx-16249: Book VII, prologue: praise of God almighty and his creation.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-16273: At night, Darius rests in his tent alone with his chamberlain. He prays to Jupiter and laments his fate; he was always virtuous and just and does not deserve this misfortune. He would rather die by his own hand than be killed by his own vassals, but his chamberlain prevents him from suicide just in time, raising the camp from sleep. Darius’ nobles assemble, some in arms, some even without clothes.

Motif References:

V 50 Prayer
J 227.2 Death preferred to dishonor
J 227 Death preferred to other evils
J 628 Dissuasion from suicide

UvEAlx-16403: Bessus and Narbâsones and their armed troops use the confusion to capture Darius, many loyal vassals are killed. Darius is bound with golden chains and dishonorably tied to a cart.

Motif References:

R 4 Surprise capture
P 19 Other motifs connected with kings
P 50.0.2 (Bm) Knight who acknowledges no overlord [Allegiance: loyalty and disloyalty of vassals]
R 51.2 Prisoners confined in chains

UvEAlx-16451: Meanwhile Alexander advances towards Bractanâ to face Darius in battle. A messenger tells him of Darius’ capture, and Alexander laments the treachery and the dishonorable treatment of his opponent. He is determined to free Darius, a deed which would be even more honorable than to defeat him.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
W 40 (Bm) Nobility
W 45 Honor

UvEAlx-16486: Hurriedly taking his army to Darius’ place of capture, Alexander tires out his warriors. At night, a knight called Bocubel reports the immediate vicinity of the traitor’s forces. Despite the exhaustion of both animals and warriors, Alexander takes his army closer to the enemy. At dawn, Alexander himself scouts out the enemy and tells his men to prepare for the day’s battle.

Motif References:

R 260 Pursuits
P 557.0.2 (Li) Spy. Messenger

UvEAlx-16551: By chance Bessus sees Alexander’s banners and warns his forces. If the traitors had attacked Alexander’s tired army at once, they would have won the battle, but their cowardice and dishonor causes them to take flight.

Motif References:

W 121 Cowardice
R 220 Flights
J 1849 Inappropriate action from misunderstanding – miscellaneous
K 2368 Enemy deceived into overestimating opponents: (retreat)

UvEAlx-16581: Darius is bound on horseback, but refuses to be taken any further. With a loud noise his heart breaks, and he demands to be killed rather than dishonored any further. He is pierced with swords and javelins. Mortally wounded, he is left lying in his blood. Bessus flees to Bractâ, Narbâsones to Irkâniâ.

Motif References:

P 16 End of king’s reign
P 16.0.1 (Bm) Regicide
S 110 Murders
R 220 Flights
J 227.2 Death preferred to dishonor
J 227.1 Death preferred to captivity
F 1041.1.1.3 Heart breaks from sorrow

UvEAlx-16608: The 6666 Persian warriors, enraged at the murder of Darius, prepare to fight Alexander. A furious battle begins, Archâbatus kills many Greek warriors, but the heroes of Alexander’s army fight bravely as well. Alexander kills Archâbatus’ horse, but spares his life. The Persians are defeated, the loot is divided.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-16714: Polistrâtus, looking for the spoils of battle, finds Darius mortally wounded in a tent. He covers the emperor’s body with cloth from the tent. Darius demands to see Alexander. Alexander embraces his opponent, weeping with compassion. He offers to give back all the lands he has conquered to Darius and to serve him as his vassal. Darius praises his opponent’s virtue and designates him as his empire’s ruler. He begs Alexander to avenge his murder and take care of his mother; also, he gives Alexander his daughter as a wife. He dies in Alexander’s arms. Alexander vows to fulfill his dying opponent’s last will and has a precious coffin and bier prepared for Darius.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
P 12.9.1 (Bm) King mourns dead enemy
P 12.9.2 (Bm) King honors dead enemy
P 16.0.1 (Bm) Regicide
T 68.4 Vanquished king gives hero his daughter and control over his kingdom
P 310.5 Defeated enemy turns true friend
F 788 Remarkable bier
F 852 Extraordinary coffin [sarkophag]

UvEAlx-16877: Alexander orders all his vassals and citizens to assemble to be enfeoffed and rewarded for their loyalty. All who come are generously rewarded. Bessus and Narbâsones approach him as well, asking to be rewarded for their services. He has them bound and decapitated; their corpses are dragged by horses.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
Q 421 Punishment: beheading
Q 491.6 Corpse of murderer mutilated
Q 499.2 Humiliating death as punishment
P 555.2 Corpses of dead foes dismembered

UvEAlx-16923: Description of Darius’ grave: a bas-relief shows all the kings Darius ruled over, four pillars hold the monument of iron, silver and gold. His coffin is of translucent marble.

Motif References:

F 778.1 (Si) Extraordinary grave
F 852 Extraordinary coffin [sarkophag]
F 852.1 Glass coffin

UvEAlx-16955: Darius’ funeral: all Greeks and Persians lament the dead emperor. Darius’ mother and his beautiful daughter mourn his death. Alexander admires her beauty. A jeweled portrait of Darius in bas-relief is erected on the grave; the epitaph praises Darius’ virtues and tells of his fate. Alexander founds a rich hermitage by his grave, so it is always properly maintained.

Motif References:

P 12.9.1 (Bm) King mourns dead enemy
P 14 Particular practices of kings
V 60 Funeral rites
V 111.5 (Bm) Church [cloister] built in hero’s [fallen warriors’] honor
V 118 Monasteries [cloisters, abbeys, nunneries]
F 855 Extraordinary image

UvEAlx-17067: Alexander takes his followers, Persian nobles and ladies to the plain of Zârâi, where he tries to take the mourning ladies’ minds off Darius’ death. Alexander announces that he will accept any Persian lord as his vassal; they may receive their old fiefs from his hand. Anyone not wishing to accept him as a new sovereign may leave within a fortnight; nobody does. Alexander invites everyone to his wedding in six weeks’ time.

Motif References:

P 17 Succession to the throne
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]

UvEAlx-17129: Alexander sends letters to his mother, telling her of his adventures and his wedding. In celebration of the event she generously gives away gold and presents. In the meantime, before his wedding, Alexander spends his time with courtly entertainments and hunting.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
T 136.4 Gifts at wedding

UvEAlx-17147: The bâruch Ackerîn, the heathens’ highest pontiff, crowns Alexander and Darius’ daughter and marries them. Roxâ asks him to release all captives, and Alexander fulfills her wish.

Motif References:

R 9.10 (Bm) Release from captivity
P 13.5 Crowning [and making] of kings
P 120 Church dignitaries
T 136.1 Wedding feast
P 634 Feasts

UvEAlx-17173: Alexander rules his empire, he crowns many young nobles, knights many boys and generously enfeoffs the nobles and gives away money and presents to everyone. Nobody has to leave without a present.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
T 136.4 Gifts at wedding

UvEAlx-17192: Roxâ is of extraordinary beauty, but at the wedding Alexander receives presents and a letter from Candacis. Even although he has never seen her, he is still in love with her and confesses his affection in a letter to her. He gives presents to the messengers. Among them is a painter, who secretly portrays Alexander.

Motif References:

T 11 Falling in love with person never seen
T 57 Declaration of love
P 482 Painter (artist)
K 2370 Miscellaneous deceptions

UvEAlx-17304: Candacis receives Alexander’s love-letter; she kisses it and embraces the portrait, which she keeps secret from her court. Praise of Candacis’ beauty and virtues.

Motif References:

T 11.2 Love through sight of picture

UvEAlx-17329: The wedding feast ends, Alexander’s guests leave. Alexander orders all of his vassals to attend his court regularly. Anyone neglecting this command is punished severely: Alexander sends military expeditions against the neglectful nobles. End of book VII.

Motif References:

P 14 Particular practices of kings

UvEAlx-17367: Book VIII, prologue: inconstancy of fortune and worldly fame. The wheel of Fortune turns; memento mori.

Motif References:

N 111.3 Fortune’s wheel.

UvEAlx-17399: Alexander plans an expedition to Ircâniâ, when a queen with 200 maidens, armed with bows and dressed in short skirts, arrives at his court. It is the queen of Amâzôn, her empire stretches from the waters of the Phâsidôn to the Caucasus. This country is inhabited only by women, their men live in another country of the same name across the river Phâsidôn and have to cross the river to visit the women. All male children are sent to their fathers, the girls stay with the women. The Amazons have only one breast to feed their children, as they cut off the other one.

Motif References:

P 20 Queens
P 63 (Bm) Lady in armor (and battle)
F 112.0.2 Separation of sexes in otherworld
F 565.1.1 Amazons cut off left breast of daughters so that they can handle bow [Amazons have only one breast]
F 565.1 Amazons. Women warriors
F 610.0.1 Remarkably strong woman
F 707 Extraordinary kingdom

UvEAlx-17457: The Amazon queen Thalêstris is still a young girl; she is welcomed by Alexander, and falls in love with him at first sight. Alexander visits her in her room, asking her about the purpose of her coming. She offers him her kingdom, and he grants her freedom of tribute. When she also begs him to sleep with her to conceive his child, Alexander refuses at first, pointing out that he has just married Rôxâ. She promises secrecy and finally persuades him to visit her at night. They spend thirty hours together. If her child is a girl, Thalêstris promises to make her queen; if it is a boy, she will send their son to Alexander. When she leaves the next day, Alexander gives her many presents.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
T 15 Love at first sight
T 55 Girl as wooer. Forthputting woman
M 150 Other vows and oaths
M 260 Other promises
M 295 Bargain to keep secret
P 324 Host greets guest with gifts [Welcome and parting gifts]
C 420 Tabu: uttering secrets
T 481 Adultery

UvEAlx-17613: Alexander prepares a military expedition against Bractân; a faithful follower of Bessus, now loyal to Bessus’ young son, still fights against Alexander’s troops. Alexander’s men object to their emperor’s new battle-plans. Alexander reprimands their sloth and orders each of them, on pain of punishment, to bring all their treasures to a plain. Reluctantly they obey, and Alexander has all treasures, including his own, burnt and destroyed. Poor again, possessing only their armor and horse, Alexander’s warriors agree to fight against Bractân.

Motif References:

U 60 Wealth and poverty
L 412 Rich man made poor to punish pride
Q 595 Loss or destruction of property as punishment

UvEAlx-17699: After bitter fighting and a long siege, Alexander finally conquers the city of Bractân. Alexander generously divides the treasures of the city among his men, who fought harder because of their poverty. He makes Mêtrône lord of Bractân.

Motif References:

U 60 Wealth and poverty
P 555.0.1 (Si) Booty. The spoils of war.
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege

UvEAlx-17735: News from Jerusalem reach Alexander: Darius had installed duke Vagôsus as governor of Juda. Johannes, son of the high priest Elyasip, follows his father in office and kills his brother Jhêsus, who is a close friend of Vagôsus, in the temple. The duke avenges the fratricide by destroying the temple, which lies in ruins for seven years. He also oppresses the Jews, forcing them to pay taxes and tribute.

Motif References:

S 73.1 Fratricide
V 110 Religious buildings [and institutions]
V 112 Temples
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
Q 211.9 Fratricide punished.
P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]
Q 595 Loss or destruction of property as punishment
P 715.1 Jews

UvEAlx-17783: At Johannes’s death, his son Jaddus becomes high priest; his brother Manassê is his counselor. After Vagôsus’ death, Darius invested Sannabâlâch as governor in Jerusalem and Sâmariâ. To reconcile the Jews with the Persian rulers, the kind and honorable Sannabâlâch marries his daughter Isachâ to Manassê, but the Jews oppose the marriage, as she is not of their people. Insulted, Sannabâlâch orders the Jews to build a mighty temple on a high mountain in Sâmariâ and gives Manassê power of command over the Jews.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court [King’s council]
T 131.8 Different religion as obstacle for marriage
T 131 Marriage restrictions
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
Q 331 Pride punished
Q 395 Disrespect punished
Q 521 Tedious penances
Q 599 Other punishments

UvEAlx-17873: When the envious Sâmarîtes hear of Darius’ death, they slander the citizens of Jerusalem to Alexander, claiming they have supported Darius against him. As Alexander promised Jaddus, he gives the Jews the opportunity to defend themselves. Bringing presents, they assure him of their innocence. The Samaritans now also demand the same privileges as the Jews; because they are opportunistic, they call themselves Jews when advantageous, and deny it at other times. Alexander promises to examine the matter when he comes to Sâmariâ.

Motif References:

W 175 Changeableness
W 181 Jealousy
V 350 Conflicts between religions
P 715.1 Jews
P 715 Particular nations (races, religions)
K 2030 Double dealers
K 2129 Slanders – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-17951: Address to the unjust world: evil deeds are rewarded. Satan is the world’s master, not God.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-17971: Dîmus, Dêmêtrius and Lotilâus plot to kill Alexander; Philôtas does not participate, but neglects to warn Alexander. This leads to his death.

Motif References:

J 755 All aspects of a plan must be foreseen
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

UvEAlx-17993: Alexander and his nobles pray and bring sacrifice in a temple of Pallas in Bractân. Dîmus sighs loudly during his prayer, and, when asked by Cebalînus, tells him of their plan to kill Alexander, naming his fellow-conspirators and Philôtas. When Cebalînus loudly laments his conflict of conscience outside, the burgrâve Mêtrôn overhears him and is told of the conspiracy. He informs on the traitors. Alexander orders the four nobles captured. Dîmus commits suicide.

Motif References:

V 10 Religious sacrifice
V 29 Confession – miscellaneous motifs
W 34 Loyalty
N 440 Valuable secrets learned
M 451.1 Death by suicide
N 455 Overheard (human) conversation
N 610 Accidental discovery of crime
K 2100 False accusation
K 2129 Slanders – miscellaneous
K 2200 Villains and traitors.
K 2380 (Hi) Detection of treachery or deceit

UvEAlx-18157: To find out if Philôtas’ father Permêniô is also involved in the conspiracy, Alexander sends him a forged letter from Philôtas. He orders his messengers on pain of death to kill Permêniô at the slightest sign of guilt; like joy at the conspiracy. Permêniô laughs out loud reading the letter, because he finds it unbelievable and absurd, and is unjustifiedly killed by the messengers.

Motif References:

S 110 Murders
H 210 Test of guilt or innocence
N 339 Accidental death – miscellaneous
H 1556 Tests of fidelity [loyalty]
K 1851 Substituted letter
K 2100 False accusation
K 2116.2 Man falsely accused of murder
K 2126 Knight falsely accused of sedition
K 2380 (Hi) Detection of treachery or deceit

UvEAlx-18193: Alexander has the traitors, including the corpse of Dîmus, brought before court. Nobles, knights and common men are set as judges, and they find them guilty. Philôtas claims to know nothing, but Dîmus’ statement stands against his words. He is found guilty and sentenced to death by stoning in the palace. Many honorable ladies and men lament the judgment, begging Alexander to have mercy, but he refuses, pointing out that treachery and treason are the most severe crimes.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
Q 422 Punishment: stoning to death
P 510 Law courts
K 2100 False accusation
K 2126 Knight falsely accused of sedition
K 2129 Slanders – miscellaneous
K 2150 Innocent made to appear guilty

UvEAlx-18353: The author compares Philôtas to Burchart, who fell from grace with king Lôis of France for the murder of a count of Flanders; he was also lamented by sympathetic nobles and ladies, like Philôtas.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-18379: Alexander is about to reconsider Philôtas’ punishment, but Aminctas urges him to remain unmerciful. Alexander leaves, and Philôtas swoons from fear and despair.

Motif References:

P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court
W 155 Hardness of heart
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief

UvEAlx-18398: When Philôtas wakes up again, he addresses the judges, lamenting his fate and assuring his innocence. He tells the tale of Ulixes, who had stolen from Pallas’s temple in Rome. Planning their conflict with Troy, the Greek heroes Achilles and Diomêdes are prophesied to die. Achilles, in women’s clothes, is hidden with the girls and women of Nycomêdes. Diomêdes feigns madness, plowing his fields with salt, to escape his doom. To put Diomêdes’ sanity to the test, his child is thrown before his plowshare; he puts it out of danger, and thus proves his sanity. As an excuse for his apparent cowardice, Diomêdes says that he had acted like anybody else in fear of death. Philôtas compares Dîmus, who had accused him of treason, to Diomêdes.

Motif References:

M 341.1 Prophecy: death at (before, within) certain time
M 370 Vain attempts to escape fulfillment of prophecy
K 523.1 Escape by shamming madness
J 1149.1 Feigned madness unmasked by threatening man’s child
J 1169 Clever pleading – miscellaneous
K 1810 Deception by disguise
K 1836 Disguise of man in woman’s dress
J 1932 Absurd practices connected with crops
K 2380 (Hi) Detection of treachery or deceit

UvEAlx-18541: Philôtas continues to lament his unjust punishment, praising his brothers’ Nycânor’s and Hector’s death in battle over his shameful execution. Philôtas is stoned. The author laments the hero’s unjustified and shameful death, blaming the world’s injustice.

Motif References:

U 10 Justice and injustice
Q 422 Punishment: stoning to death
Q 499.2 Humiliating death as punishment

UvEAlx-18607: Seven days after Philôtas’ execution Alexander reaches the river Thanais, which marks the border of Bractân and Scitiâ. Alexander makes camp, and lords from all around come to him to receive their fiefs and to pay tribute. Four nobles of Scitiâ approach Alexander and accuse him of pride and haughtiness: he acts like a god, demanding subjection from all. The Scites refuse to pay the tribute, but Alexander persists. The nobles argue that, since they do not demand tribute of him, he has no right to their country. When Alexander remains implacable, they leave.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
W 187 Insolence [Self-conceit]
P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]

UvEAlx-18705: Alexander has fortifications built on the riverbank; he has large ships built and binds them together with iron chains, bridging the wide river Thanais. On this structure he has a bridge built, but his warriors mistrust the construction. Only after he has all the animals herded over the bridge and crossed it himself, do the warriors follow reluctantly. On the other side, Alexander has the bridge disassembled and a fortified building erected with the material.

Motif References:

P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
J 755 All aspects of a plan must be foreseen

UvEAlx-18760: Alexander and his troops raid the Scites’ land, destroying cities and castles. Alexander has fortifications built and promises fiefs in Scitiâ to his warriors. The Scites, a brave and battle-hardened people, assemble a mighty army, armed with spears and bows, to defend their country and oppose Alexander.

Motif References:

P 550.1.2 (Li) Defense of legitimate rights by war
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
P 551 Army

UvEAlx-18822: In battles with the Scites Alexander comes to admire his enemies’ honor and bravery. He offers them service in his own ranks, but they bravely refuse to surrender and give up their country. In a furious battle, the Greeks finally defeat the Scites. Alexander kills many, but has all captured nobles released on their word. Scitiâ becomes subject to Alexander.

Motif References:

R 9.10 (Bm) Release from captivity
W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
W 32 Bravery
W 45 Honor
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-18881: End of book VIII. The author asks God to help him in the completion of his work.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-18913: Book IX. Alexander is out hunting a boar, but Ermolâus, a young boy, kills the animal first on instruction of his teacher Calistenes. Furious, Alexander beats the boy; Calistenes calms the crying Ermolâus, telling him to remember that he will be an adult soon. Alexander misinterprets the old man’s words, taking them as a threat of vengeance, and has them both killed.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
P 12.13 King quick to anger
W 185 Violence of temper
Q 236 Punishment for deceiving (divine) emperor
P 340 Teacher and pupil
Q 411 Death as punishment
M 510 (Bm) Threats to one’s own life
Q 590 Miscellaneous punishments
J 1820 Inappropriate action from misunderstanding

UvEAlx-18958: Continuing his hunt, Alexander follows a stag into the woods alone and loses his way. He finally kills the animal on a clearing, where a strange knight appears and accuses him of poaching. He is small as a child and rides a tiny horse, but his small armor and weapons are that of a noble knight. He carries crown and scepter, and generously offers to forgive the transgression and to spare Alexander’s life. Alexander, amused by the dwarf, asks for forgiveness, and the little knight leads him to his kingdom in the mountains.

Motif References:

F 159.1 Otherworld reached by hunting animal
F 451.4.1.11 Dwarfs live in hills and mountains
F 451 Dwarf
F 451.2.1.1 Dwarfs are small
F 451.2.7 Dress of dwarf
F 451.4.5.1 Dwarfs are ruled by a king
F 451.2.7.7 Dwarf king wears costly crown
F 451.6.2 Dwarf rides
F 451.7.5 Dwarfs have little horses
F 451.5 Dwarfs and human beings
F 451.5.1 Helpful dwarfs
C 614.1.0.2 Tabu- hunting in certain part of forest

UvEAlx-19036: Alexander accompanies the dwarf king to a mountain; by the mountain walls, Alexander sees hundreds of dwarves approach them, the women and maidens preciously clothed. The dwarf-knights joust and have tournaments. He notices all kinds of courtly entertainments, since it is the dwarf king’s wedding day. After a wedding feast the dwarf king offers to lead Alexander back to his men himself and to reveal all traitors among Alexander’s nobles to him.

Motif References:

T 136.1 Wedding feast
T 136.3 Amusements at wedding
F 451.5.1.6 Other gifts from dwarfs
F 451.4.3 Description of dwarf home
F 451.5.4 Mortal goes to land of dwarfs
F 451.5.1 Helpful dwarfs
F 451.5.8 Dwarfs associate with mortals
F 451.6.3.1 Dwarfs feast mortals in their home

UvEAlx-19115: Alexander and Antilôis, the dwarf king, reach Alexander’s camp, and the dwarf leaves; a meeting at the week’s end is arranged. Alexander orders preparations for a big feast in celebration of his conquests, and at the end of the week, Antilôis appears to Alexander, invisible to the rest of the Greeks. Unseen, he attacks and beats many nobles, servants and officials, thus pointing out the unfaithful ones and causing great confusion. After that, he takes leave again.

Motif References:

F 235.1 Fairies [dwarfs] invisible
F 235.3 Fairies [dwarfs] visible to one person alone
F 347 Fairy advisor [advice from dwarf]
F 451.5.2.11 Dwarfs attack soldier (hero)
D 1980 Magic invisibility
K 2380 (Hi) Detection of treachery or deceit

UvEAlx-19209: At night, Alexander goes to eavesdrop on his men, accompanied only by his sword bearer. Through the tents’ walls he overhears his nobles bragging about their deeds on the battlefield; all agree that Alexander is the bravest, but Clitus boasts that he has saved Alexander’s life many times in battle. Alexander hurries to enter the tent but in the dark collides with Clitus who is about to leave. Alexander has the insolent warrior executed. It is better to conceal the truth from noble lords, as they are easily offended.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings
P 12.13 King quick to anger
W 117 Boastfulness.
W 121.2 Coward boasts when there is no danger
W 185 Violence of temper
J 267 Choice between flattering lies and unflattering truths
Q 411 Death as punishment
K 2380 (Hi) Detection of treachery or deceit

UvEAlx-19274: Alexander breaks camp, taking Scites as guides to India. Description of India: the surrounding mountains Libies and Austrô reach the sky; at noon, all work stops because of the heat. The people are black. To the east is a high plain with the mountain Caucasus on it, the river Indus, giving the land its name, and the river Ganges have their sources there. The Indus flows to the Austrô and is cold as ice. The Ganges is fed by countless smaller rivers, and meets the river Achesis with the loudest rush of water. The mountains and rivers are full of gold (collected by the gryphons) and jewels, collected by the inhabitants who wash themselves in the rivers.

Motif References:

B 42.0.1 (Hi) Griffin’s gold
F 55 Mountain reaches to sky [moon]
F 162.2.10 Jewels in streams of otherworld

UvEAlx-19335: The Indians were subject to Darius; when the land’s nobles hear of Alexander’s arrival, they decide to subject themselves to Alexander, with the exception of the kings Pôrus and Sûdrâcas, who assemble armies to oppose him. The Indian kings are reinstated as Alexander’s vassals, who is amazed by the marvels of India.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
P 550.1.2 (Li) Defense of legitimate rights by war
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

UvEAlx-19371: Alexander makes camp by the river Dyaspes and prepares to battle the rebellious Indian kings. The noble king Pôrus is a strong and virtuous king, and he leads a mighty army to the sound of warlike instruments. All warriors wear the most precious jeweled armor, and the Greeks find this army the most marvelous they have ever seen.

Motif References:

P 551 Army
F 873 Extraordinary army

UvEAlx-19429: Pôrus rides with the two fair-skinned brothers Candaulus and Karâtor, who are Candacis’ sons and the royal successors of their late father Fizcâtor who died in a joust. Candaulus is married to Pôrus’ daughter.

Motif References:

P 17 Succession to the throne
P 251.5 Two brothers

UvEAlx-19457: Pôrus’ camp lies on a peninsula and is protected by the river Dyaspes, but Alexander’s warriors attack his men on boats. Symachus and Nycânor, two of Alexander’s men, are among the most virtuous of Alexander’s knights. They look alike and were both born on the same day. Symachus proposes they attack Pôrus on their own with their warriors, and Nycânor agrees. They attack the enemy, killing many Indians in the battle, but are finally overcome by Pôrus and his troops, who come to the aid of their warriors. The two Greeks fight bravely, for each dead Greek thirty Indians are slain, and they protect each other with their own bodies. Finally, they die in each others arms. Their death is mourned by all Greeks.

Motif References:

W 32 Bravery
P 311 Sworn brethren
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
T 685 Twins
F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)

UvEAlx-19591: Alexander leaves Atilus in command of his camp with a few warriors. Unnoticed by Pôrus, he secretly takes the main body of his army downriver with ships. Atilus distracts the Indians with loud noises in the camp, Alexander lands his troops on the peninsula, but gives the Indians time to prepare for the battle. The peninsula is full of swamps, and many Indians drown with their animals.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
W 45 Honor
P 550 Military affairs
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous
K 2370 Miscellaneous deceptions

UvEAlx-19653: A furious battle begins, Alexander kills Enachus and Julkôn, avenging the Greek nobles. Many Indian nobles are killed by Alexander and his warriors, but at night Pôrus drives the Greek forces back to their ships. Pôrus fights bravely even on the Greek ships and is nearly captured on one of them. Alexander takes his troops back to the camp.

Motif References:

W 32 Bravery
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-19729: The next night, Alexander deceptively orders the camp torched. Pôrus, believing Alexander to retreat, prepares to take his troops over the river to pursue the Greeks. Meanwhile, Pôrus’ brother Taxillîs has arrived with reinforcements.

Motif References:

K 2368 Enemy deceived into overestimating opponents: (retreat)
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous
K 2370 Miscellaneous deceptions

UvEAlx-19761: Alexander posts Crâthêrus as a scout to observe Pôrus’ army. On the Indian side, Candaulus rides out with the same intention. Candaulus is armed with a precious armor of gold and jewels, a present from his moorish lady Agyris. Her name and image decorate his shield and coat. When the two warriors meet, a fight begins. After a joust, Candaulus wounds the Greek and kills his horse; he threatens to trample Crâthêrus with his horse if he does not surrender. Candaulus takes his enemy’s sword and lets him leave with the oath that he will not take part in the battle against the Indian forces. Crâthêrus tells Candaulus his name and gives his word of honor, then returns to Alexander.

Motif References:

P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 557.2 Pledge with enemy to be kept
P 557 Military customs

UvEAlx-19880: Alexander addresses his armies, explaining his strategy in battle. Two armies are designated to deal with the war-elephants by attacking their feet with halberds and scythes. Tholomêus and Cênôs shall fight Taxîllîs’ forces, while Alexander himself will attack Pôrus.

Motif References:

P 552 Battle formations
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-19919: Pôrus’ army is enormous. At the sound of horns a furious battle begins. Pôrus leads the attack. The battle is harder than any of the previous battles. Countless warriors fall, the corpses are trampled by the horses. The Greeks succeed in disabling and killing the war-elephants. Pôrus and Alexander engage in single-combat, but when an Indian warrior wounds Pûcival, the two are separated. At night, Taxillîs turns to flee, turning the tide of the battle and forcing all Indians to retreat. Pursuing the fleeing Indians, Pûcival breaks down, mortally wounded. Many Indians are captured, but the rest reach the peninsula. Alexander laments his dead horse, but fights on all night on another horse.

Motif References:

R 5 Capture on field of battle
B 16.2.6 Devastating elephant
Z 201.1 (Bm) Hero’s famous horse
R 220 Flights
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
B 557.11.4 (Bm) Soldiers fight from “castles” on elephant’s backs
F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-20062: At dawn, the Indians are fortified again on their peninsula. Pôrus is enraged at his brother’s flight. He insults his brother, calling him a coward and threatening to take his weapons and lands from him, but Candaulus calms him. Pôrus decides to face Alexander in single-combat; the winner shall be declared victor and become seigneur of the loser’s land. Alexander is sent a message and agrees. A date is fixed.

Motif References:

W 121 Cowardice
H 217.1 Decision of victory by single combat between army leaders
M 500 (Bm) Threats
P 556.0.1 (Bm) Challenge to single combat [feud]
P 557.4 Customs concerning single combat

UvEAlx-20127: At the appointed day, Alexander and Pôrus meet for single combat on the peninsula. Both swear oaths that no man shall come to their aid. Single combat begins with a joust and continues with swords. Alexander wounds Pôrus in the head; the blood and sweat impairs his sight, and he casts off his helmet. The fight continues on foot; when Pôrus collapses from his wounds, Alexander compassionately kneels down and embraces his enemy. He offers Pôrus lands and fiefs if he surrenders and laments his worthy adversary. Alexander even bandages the Indian himself and has the Indian king brought to the Greek camp to a physician.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
P 12 Character of kings
W 46 (Li) Modesty
P 310.5 Defeated enemy turns true friend
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 557.4.7 (Li) Rules for single combat

UvEAlx-20247: Candaulus and Taxillîs leave the Indian forces, unhappy about Pôrus’ defeat and surrender.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-20255: Alexander sends a message of peace to Karâtor, asking him to allow a Greek messenger, Antigonus, to visit his mother Candacis. When this is granted, Alexander rides to Candacis himself under the name of Antigonus.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
J 620 Forethought in prevention of others’s plans
K 1812.15 King disguised as own messenger
K 1831.0.1 Disguise by changing name
K 2357 Disguise to enter enemy’s camp (castle)

UvEAlx-20271: Candacis reads Alexander’s letters and has the messenger brought before her; she immediately recognizes Alexander from the portrait. Alexander, in the disguise of Antigonus, addresses Candacis, reporting his lord Alexander’s affection for her. Candacis tells him that she once loved Alexander, but her affection is marred, as she claims, by the death of her son Candaulus at his hands. Alexander denies his death, but she tells him his disguise is uncovered and imprisons Alexander to avenge her son’s presumed death later.

Motif References:

P 20.1 Clever queen
H 21 Recognition through picture
P 322.2 Guest in disguise or under false name
L 419 Proud ruler (deity) humbled – miscellaneous
K 778 Capture through the wiles of a woman

UvEAlx-20433: Candacis sends for Candaulus to deliver Alexander into his hands. Meanwhile, she has two noble maidens care for her prisoner. When she visits Alexander again, he claims to be happy to be in her presence, prisoner or not. The two maidens, whom he has convinced of his virtue and honor, beg the queen to be merciful on her prisoner. Candacis is reconciled and again falls in love with Alexander.

Motif References:

T 10 Falling in love
T 29 Falling in love – miscellaneous
R 51.6 (Bm) Captive as hostage
R 70 Behavior of captives
T 298 Reconciliation [reunion] of (separated) couple

UvEAlx-20493: Candacis’ sons arrive at her palace; Candaulus is suspicious of the Greek messenger. Although Candacis hides Alexander from him, he soon guesses the identity of her guest, but Candacis calms his rage: after all, it was his own brother Karâtor who allowed the messenger to visit her. Karâtor even reinforces his promise of safe passage with an oath, which earns him Alexander’s friendship and gratitude. Enraged, Candaulus leaves. Alexander stays with Candacis, sharing her bed.

Motif References:

W 45 Honor
P 320 Hospitality
P 322.2 Guest in disguise or under false name
P 322 Guest given refuge
P 324.3 Guests’ life inviolable
N 837 Queen as helper

UvEAlx-20557: After Alexander leaves Candacis, he besieges the rich city of Sûdrâcas. The citizens owe their wealth to the gold of the Caucasus. After a fruitless siege, Alexander climbs the city walls with long ladders at dawn. Unfortunately, the guards manage to topple all other ladders, leaving Alexander alone on the city walls. He jumps down into the city and fights against the defenders, his back to a laurel-tree. He is severely wounded, when three Greek knights (Aristôn, Peutêstes and Lauernâtus) also manage to scale the walls and come to his help. Finally the Greeks manage to break through the city walls from outside, and Alexander is saved. All citizens except the women are killed.

Motif References:

S 110.0.1 (Li) Mass murder
R 169.5 Hero rescued by friend
N 300 Unlucky accidents
N 310 Accidental separations
L 325.1 (Bm) Victory over superior force: one against many
Q 411 Death as punishment
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
C 867.1 Tabu- abusing [killing] women or children

UvEAlx-20708: Alexander’s doctors care for his wounds; Cristôbolus asks for Alexander’s admission to cut a poisoned piece of a spear’s tip from his body. Alexander assures him of his trust, and Cristôbolus operates on Alexander. The Greeks are terrified at their lord’s loss of blood, but Cristôbolus bandages him and saves Alexander’s life.

Motif References:

P 424 Physician
P 553.1 Poisoned weapons
F 668.0.1 Skillful physician
F 959.6 Marvelous cure for poison
D 1515.1 Remedies for poison

UvEAlx-20749: The dead are buried, and Alexander generously gives Sûdrâcas to Aristôn. On Candacis’ wish, Alexander also releases all captives from Pôrus’ army.

Motif References:

R 9.10 (Bm) Release from captivity

UvEAlx-20785: On Pôrus’ proposition, Alexander then prepares to travel over the sea Occeanus, to visit all the kingdoms of his defeated adversary. The Greeks oppose; Crâtherus argues that Alexander has already conquered all the world; all that is left are lands without worth, and the sea is dangerous to cross. But Alexander insists: he will not return home before he has seen the Antipodes, the marvels of the sea, hell and paradise. Alexander sends Pôrus home, who has recovered from his wounds, and prepares the ships.

Motif References:

M 151.7.1 (Bm) Vow not to be happy until conquest is achieved [revenge is taken]
W 151.11 (Bm) Greed for glory (king demands credit for others’ deeds)
M 195 (Bm) Vow to see particular marvel.

UvEAlx-20868: Candaulus tells Alexander of a people with Jewish language, who were imprisoned by God in the mountain range of Caspasis. The only way out is a small pass. Alexander asks to be led there, and Candaulus obeys. Alexander learns more about the people: they consist of ten tribes, their kings are called Gog and Magog. These tribes had forsaken god and prayed to idols; they are said to eat snakes, toads and even their own dead.

Motif References:

V 1.11 Worship of idols
G 11.18 Cannibal tribe
R 49 Other places of captivity
F 510.1 Monstrous races
F 561 People of unusual diet
P 715.1 Jews
D 2177 Imprisoning by magic

UvEAlx-20913: Alexander swears to imprison the races of Gog and Magog once and for all. He prays to God, and a miracle happens: a voice from heaven tells Alexander that he has been heard. The mountains move, closing the pass. They will remain imprisoned until the coming of the Antichrist. The prophet Dânîel has foretold that the Antichrist’s reign on earth will last for three and a half years.

Motif References:

R 49 Other places of captivity
V 52 Miraculous power of prayer
V 57 Purpose of prayer
V 59 Prayers answered – miscellaneous
M 119 Taking of vows and oaths – miscellaneous
M 150 Other vows and oaths
F 510.1 Monstrous races
D 2136.3.1 Mountain moved by prayer

UvEAlx-20959: Alexander travels to Pôrus’ golden palace; he is welcomed by Pôrus and his queen, who is accompanied by many beautiful moorish maidens. The palace is built completely of gold, even the walls and the ceiling are made of solid gold, decorated with silver and jewels. Pôrus treats his guests hospitably and presents the crowns of all his lands to Alexander. Ashamed, Alexander generously refuses them and invests Pôrus as ruler in all of his conquered kingdoms. Oaths of loyalty are sworn. End of book IX.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
P 320 Hospitality
F 771.1.1 Golden castle (palace, house)

UvEAlx-21061: Book X, prologue. The prophet Dânîel saw four animals in a vision: a lion, a bear, a leopard and a strange animal, unlike any other creature. This creature means the Antichrist, born of an impure woman. After the empires of Nabuchodonosor, Darius and Alexander, the Antichrist will rule a mighty empire, which will end on doomsday. The author prays to the virgin Mary to protect all sinners.

Motif References:

M 301 Prophets
M 301.7 Biblical worthy as prophet
V 515.2 Allegorical visions – political
V 515.1 Allegorical visions – religious
D 1812.3.3.5 Prophetic dream allegorical

UvEAlx-21121: Alexander travels to the river Tigris. Making camp by the river, Alexander rides out into the mountains. On a plain he discovers many precious deserted palaces, built by Xerses. At first, Alexander plans to burn down the palaces, but changes his mind. He also discovers the graves of the Persian kings; it is a Persian custom to bury the dead person with his favorite cups and dishes. The Greeks dig and unearth many treasures from the graves.

Motif References:

N 511.1.1 Treasure buried in graves

UvEAlx-21165: The coffin of the king of Assyria, Nînus, is made of a translucent amethyst, decorated with bas-reliefs of animals and flowers. His corpse can be seen through the stone.

Motif References:

F 778 (Bm) Extraordinary tomb
F 809.7 Transparent stone
F 852.1 Glass coffin

UvEAlx-21178: Near the graveyard Alexander discovers a tower full of prisoners, who beg to be released. Their hands and feet are lame from mistreatment, and Alexander mercifully releases them, giving each ten pounds of gold. He sends them home to their lands, granting them release from tribute.

Motif References:

R 9.10 (Bm) Release from captivity
W 10 Kindness
W 11 Generosity
R 41.2 Captivity in tower
R 51 Mistreatment of prisoners

UvEAlx-21201: The people of Maglî and Partes oppose Alexander; in a hard battle, he defeats them. He gives sacrifice to the gods to thank for the victory.

Motif References:

V 10 Religious sacrifice
V 17 Purpose of sacrifice
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War

UvEAlx-21215: Alexander travels to the fertile land of Carpiâ, where he is welcomed as the new sovereign. The king of Carpiâ receives the land as his fief from Alexander. Pitching his camp, the king warns the Greeks of the dangerous venomous serpents, which emerge at night. Many serpents are killed by Alexander’s warriors.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
B 776.7 Venomous serpent

UvEAlx-21245: Alexander travels on to Albâniâ; the king opposes him in battle. The Albânians have trained war-dogs to attack their enemies in battle. Alexander tells his men to take pigs with them on their horses and to throw them to the attacking dogs to divert them. Alexander’s ruse works, and in a hard battle the Albanians are defeated. Alexander orders all of his warriors to give sacrifice to thank for the victory. He keeps one of the war-dogs and has him fight a lion and an elephant: the dog defeats both.

Motif References:

B 264 Single combat between animals
B 268.2.1 War-Dogs
L 315 Small animal overcomes large
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-21313: Traveling back towards Carpiâ, Alexander and his army cross a mountainous desert; men and animals suffer from thirst. The heat is so great that the water in their barrels begins to boil. Alexander’s men begin to question their leader’s ambition and lament the hardships of the expedition. Alexander addresses his men from an elevated position, reminding them of their adventures. He also reminds them of his own bravery and commitment to their expedition: fighting in the first row, riding to Darius in disguise, facing Pôrus in single-combat. Also, their families in Greece will call them cowards if they leave him now. His men are ashamed and assure him of their loyalty.

Motif References:

P 14 Particular practices of kings
W 32 Bravery
W 121 Cowardice
P 551 Army

UvEAlx-21431: Alexander sends two parts of his army to Egypt and Persia. Nevertheless, he still has 50 dukes in his enormous army, 100,000 warriors in total. In addition, Alexander has 1,000 elephants to carry his treasures, 400 carts for provisions, 1,200 camels and countless mules and dromedaries carrying cereal, and a countless number of cattle, pigs and sheep.

Motif References:

P 551 Army

UvEAlx-21464: The army suffers from great thirst in the desert. A knight finds a little water on a rock and takes it to Alexander in his helmet. Since it is just enough for one man to drink, but enough for all to enjoy its sight, Alexander pours it to the ground, as he does not want to be privileged above his men. His men gain strength from seeing this.

Motif References:

P 12 Character of kings

UvEAlx-21487: The author would prefer the coolness of a wine-cellar to the August heat of the desert; his friend in Lûtmeritz, Conrât of Mîsne, has one such cellar, where wine and roast are served.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-21505: Alexander and his army suffer from the desert heat and from the attacks of ipomites and serpents. The Greeks wear their armor even in the heat to protect themselves from these animals.

Motif References:

B 17.2 Other hostile animals

UvEAlx-21522: Finally Alexander and his warriors reach a lake of bitter water; its banks are covered by tall and thick reed (60 feet tall and thick as a man’s reach with both arms). On a small island in the middle of the lake is a small house built of reed. Alexander has one of his men shout over to the house in Indian to ask about a place with potable water, but the inhabitants ignore him. 37 warriors volunteer to swim to the island with bare swords, but are killed by sea-monsters.

Motif References:

B 16.5.1.2 Devastating (man-eating) sea-monster (serpent)
B 16.2 Devastating wild animals
N 785 Adventures from seeking water

UvEAlx-21575: Looking for water, Alexander and his warriors are attacked by wild animals (lions, tigers, rhinos, bears). Finally they reach a lake with potable water. Alexander pitches camp, ordering his men to light fires at night.

Motif References:

B 17.2 Other hostile animals
N 785 Adventures from seeking water

UvEAlx-21595: At night, giant turtles stir up dirt in the lake. Soon afterwards, giant snakes with legs and dragons attack Alexander’s camp. The dragons have sharp horns, their breath is deadly and poisonous. Alexander is the first to fight these creatures, encouraging his fearful warriors. 20 knights and 30 servants are killed before the serpents can be defeated.

Motif References:

B 11.2.11.2 Breath of Dragon kills man [venomous fiery and fetid breath of dragon]
B 11.11 Fight with dragon
W 32 Bravery
B 776.7 Venomous serpent
B 875.1 Giant serpent

UvEAlx-21633: Next, giant crabs attack. Since their hard shields are invulnerable to swords, Alexander has the creatures killed with torches.

Motif References:

B 15.7.10 Animal unusual as to skin
B 268.14 Giant crabs attack army
B 745.1 (Bm) Crabs, invulnerable to swords, routed by fire
B 876.2.1 Giant crab

UvEAlx-21649: During the night, giant white lions attack Alexander’s camp. After that, giant boars with extraordinarily long tusks attack the warriors. Together with them, monstrous people with six arms each fight against the Greek warriors (they are called Agrestes). Alexander orders two of the monsters spared to take with him.

Motif References:

B 16.1.4.1 Giant devastating boar
F 516.2 People with many arms
B 731.15 (Bm) White lion
B 871.1.2 Giant boar

UvEAlx-21677: A mighty animal, called an aimay, attacks the camp. It is larger than an elephant and has a large head with three horns. It kills over 70 Greeks before it can be overcome. Alexander keeps the horns as a trophy.

Motif References:

B 15.1 Animal unusual as to his head
B 15.3.1 Many-horned animal
B 19.12 (Bm) Mythical beast, size of elephant, black head, three horns in forehead

UvEAlx-21695: Sirîces, dog-like carrion-eaters, approach and devour the corpses of the dead beasts and also the wounded warriors, ignoring all other creatures.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-21707: At dawn, a large flock of birds settles on the lake. The birds are as large as vultures with red heads, they catch fish and eels from the lake.

Motif References:

B 878.1 Giant flock of birds

UvEAlx-21717: Alexander breaks camp, heading towards the rich country of Bâtriân. They are welcomed hospitably and served for 20 days by the king. Alexander grants the country freedom of tribute.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
P 320 Hospitality

UvEAlx-21733: Traveling on, Alexander reaches two golden pillars. Upon closer inspection they are found to be hollow. Alexander has 1,500 golden pennies cast into them. The author compares the large pillars to the stinginess of rich men: no matter how much gold they receive, their greed is bottomless.

Motif References:

W 151 Greed
H 619 Other symbolic interpretations
A 984 Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar set up by Hercules.

UvEAlx-21756: Alexander reaches a city built on a rock by a lake. This city was founded by Hercules, who had given the inhabitants the privilege to live freely. Therefore they refuse to pay the tribute Alexander demands of them. Alexander has his men undermine the rock, putting the city in danger of crashing into the lake. Intimidated, the inhabitants accept Alexander’s conditions and offer tribute. Alexander accepts their surrender and gives back the tribute they offered, only ordering them to accept him as their lord.

Motif References:

W 11.5.5 Conqueror spares city
Q 121 Freedom as reward
Z 316 Only one way to besiege certain city [castle]
M 500 (Bm) Threats
P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]
F 767 Inaccessible city
F 771.3 Extraordinary location of castle
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-21811: Reaching a well-fortified country, Alexander is opposed by a large army of the land’s eight kings. 300,000 warriors in total stand against the Greek army. At the sound of war horns and trumpets the armies clash. A furious battle begins. The kings have sworn not to flee in battle, and soon the blood flows deep on the battlefield Alexander captures the enemy kings on the battlefield, releasing them on their oaths to be loyal and to retreat with all their men. Countless warriors lay dead, and Alexander orders them all buried.

Motif References:

R 5 Capture on field of battle
V 69.1 All dead are buried after battle
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
M 161 Vow never to flee in fear of death
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 873.2 Enormous army (camp)
F 1084.1 Deep streams of blood flow during battle
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

UvEAlx-21965: Alexander has a house of prayer erected to the god Âmôn and brings sacrifice to thank him for the victory. The defeated kings receive their kingdoms as fiefs from Alexander.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
V 112 Temples

UvEAlx-21979: Traveling on, Alexander reaches a barren land of continuous darkness. After seven days of traveling the dark country, they reach a river of hot water. On the other side, the Greeks see a circle of beautiful women on horseback, all armored in silver and carrying swords. As the river is too deep to cross and also inhabited by dragons and hippos, Alexander regretfully leaves again.

Motif References:

P 63 (Bm) Lady in armor (and battle)
F 110 Journey to terrestrial otherworlds
F 141 Water barrier to otherworld
F 141.1 River as barrier to otherworld
F 565.1 Amazons. Women warriors
F 706 Land of darkness
F 715 Extraordinary river
F 932.7 River boils.

UvEAlx-22016: Alexander reaches a country full of swamps and reeds; in a forest of reeds, a strange animal attacks his men. It is the size of a hippo, with crocodile skin. After slowly trudging along with the warriors, it suddenly attacks with amazing speed. Because its skin is too hard to pierce, it is finally bludgeoned to death with iron clubs after a hard fight.

Motif References:

B 15.7.10 Animal unusual as to skin
B 15.7.10.1 Animal with horny skin
B 17.2 Other hostile animals
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-22042: By the river Bûchemâr mighty elephants scare Alexander’s warriors, their long trunks grasping the men. Alexander has his warriors cause loud noises by making the pigs squeal and playing instruments, so the elephants flee the noise. The Greeks pursue the fleeing animals, killing many of them. Alexander takes their tusks and bones with him to make a throne of them in Babylon.

Motif References:

B 16.2.6 Devastating elephant
K 2351.3 Mice and hogs let loose put elephant cavalry to flight

UvEAlx-22071: In a forest, the Greeks see strange hunter-women: they are remarkably tall and have beards that reach their breasts. They are excellent hunters and wear the skins of their game. Asked by Alexander, they tell him that their only food is the game they hunt. Alexander orders two of the women taken with him.

Motif References:

F 565.4 Women hunters
F 567.1 Wild woman
F 576 Extraordinary ugliness
F 679.5 Skillful hunter

UvEAlx-22093: Alexander reaches a country where men and women go naked, their bodies are covered with hair like an animal. They have no houses, but live on land and water alike. When they see the Greeks approaching, they run into a lake to hide.

Motif References:

F 129.7 Journey to land of naked people
F 562 People of unusual residence
F 562.3 Residence in (under) water
F 568 Naked tribe
F 709.1 Country of the naked

UvEAlx-22108: Traveling onwards, Alexander discovers a tribe of giant wild women whose teeth resemble those of wild boars; they are covered with hair and also have a tail.

Motif References:

F 513.1 Person unusual as to his teeth
F 521.1.1 Woman with animal hair.
F 531.0.4 Giant woman
F 531.1.6.2 Giant with [remarkable] teeth { like those of saw}
F 531.1.6.3 Giants with shaggy hair on their bodies
F 531.1.6.14 Giantess with tail (many tails)
F 531.1.6.2.1 Giants (giantesses) [wild-woman] with long teeth.
F 544.3 Remarkable teeth
F 567.1 Wild woman
F 576 Extraordinary ugliness

UvEAlx-22125: Alexander reaches a forest inhabited by tall, beautiful women, except for their feet which are those of a horse. These people are called Lânich. Alexander takes two with him.

Motif References:

F 517.1.6 Person with horse’s hoofs

UvEAlx-22138: Alexander makes camp on a plain. At night, violent storms damage the Greek tents; a rain of fire terrifies the Greeks, who fear the anger of the gods for their insolent journeys. Alexander calms them by blaming the weather of the season.

Motif References:

Q 552.13 Fire from heaven as punishment
F 962.2 Fire from heaven

UvEAlx-22173: Alexander moves his ravaged camp three miles away. As soon as the tents are pitched, snow starts to fall, making them suffer from the bitter cold. An old warrior, overcome by the cold, is taken into his tent by Alexander himself. Before the fires can be fully lit, 40 warriors die from the cold and are buried. After the snow stops falling and three days of heavy rain have passed, it rains fire on the camp again. Alexander prays to god so intensely, that he has mercy and stops the fiery rain.

Motif References:

W 46 (Li) Modesty
V 50 Prayer
V 52 Miraculous power of prayer
V 57 Purpose of prayer
V 59 Prayers answered – miscellaneous
F 962 Extraordinary precipitation (rain, snow, etc.)
F 962.2 Fire from heaven

UvEAlx-22221: Alexander travels to Oxî; the inhabitants of this country go naked and are simple-minded but virtuous and pure. They have no houses or cities. Their name, Gîmôsophistês, means “the naked but wise people”. Hearing of Alexander arrival, the king of Oxî writes him a simple letter, reminding Alexander of his own mortality and warning him not to invade. There is nothing of value in Oxî except wisdom. Alexander replies that his intentions are peaceful and travels into Oxî to explore the country. When he grants one of the naked inhabitants a wish, he wishes for immortality. When Alexander admits his own mortality, the Gîmôsophist questions his actions: what use is there in worldly conquest if he is mortal? Alexander replies that a higher power forces him to conquer; he grants the Gîmôsophistês freedom of tribute and leaves.

Motif References:

F 129.7 Journey to land of naked people
F 568 Naked tribe
F 709.1 Country of the naked
J 1262 Repartee based on doctrinal discussions

UvEAlx-22331: Making camp on a plain, Alexander discovers strange trees which grow and ungrow each day, reaching their full height at noon and disappearing again at dusk. A knight who tastes one of the tree’s fruit, is immediately killed by an evil spirit. Anyone catching one of the birds of the trees is consumed by fire. A voice from heaven warns Alexander to touch neither the fruit nor the birds; anyone doing so will die. The Greeks leave hurriedly.

Motif References:

C 510 Tabu: touching tree (plant)
D 621 Daily transformation
C 621.2 Tabu- touching fruit
F 811.7 Trees with extraordinary fruit
F 811.13 Tree blooms and grows ripe fruit nightly [daily]
F 811.12 Trees grow and “ungrow” each day
C 921 Immediate death for breaking tabu
D 950 Magic tree
F 966 Voices from heaven (or from the air)

UvEAlx-22367: Alexander and his warriors reach the river Fîsôn, which is inhabited by many wild beasts: hippos, crocodiles, scorpions inhabit the river all year, except for July and August. Alexander calls over to one of the inhabitants of the country on the other side. He learns that the land is called Brâgmanâ and that their king is Dindimus. Alexander has one of them cross the river in a boat and gives him letters to take back to their king. In this letter, Alexander asks the king to share with him the wisdom he is rumored to possess. Dindimus replies, praising Alexander’s striving for wisdom, as any king should do. He describes his people’s simple and modest, even saint-like life, reprimanding Alexander’s ambition and insolent greed for conquest. To this Alexander mockingly replies that the Brâgmanâs modesty comes from their country’s inaccessibility. As the river Fîsôn is uncrossable, Dindimus is forced to praise the benefits of modesty, much like a prisoner is forced to accept his prison. Alexander has a marble pillar erected at the riverbank to commemorate his visit and conversation with Dindimus.

Motif References:

W 46 (Li) Modesty
W 47 (Hi) Humility and modesty
U 60 Wealth and poverty
F 141 Water barrier to otherworld
F 141.1 River as barrier to otherworld
F 162.2.11 Perilous river in otherworld.
J 231 Wisdom chosen above all else
J 247 Goodness [honor] preferred to wealth
J 480 Other choices
F 560 Unusual manner of life
F 707 Extraordinary kingdom
F 709 Other extraordinary countries
J 870 Consolation by pretending that one does not want the thing he cannot have
J 883 Poor man consoles self by thinking of misfortunes of rich
J 893 Consolation: spiritual recompense for (temporal) misfortune
J 953 Self-deception of the lowly

UvEAlx-22547: Alexander travels to the plain of Hacteâ and pitches camp. Out of the nearby forest, giants with iron clubs approach the army. Alexander has his men holler and shout, causing the giants to flee because they have never heard human voices before. Pursuing them, the Greeks kill 134 of the giants. For three days they rest on the plain. Many sick warriors are healed by eating the fruits of the forest.

Motif References:

F 531 Giant
F 531.4.5.1 Giant with iron club [pole] as weapon
F 531.5 Giants and men
F 531.6.2.7 Giants in wild forests
F 531.0.3.1 (Bm) Group or tribe or army of giant men
F 531.5.11 Giant in contest [combat] with man
F 531.6.12.7 Giants driven away by men
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 811.5 Food-producing trees
D 1500.1.5 Magic healing fruit.
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-22585: Traveling on to a river, Alexander’s men notice a strange creature in the vicinity of the camp. It is a large Agrestîn, a man shaped beast with pig’s bristles. Alexander promises a reward to anyone able to catch the creature alive, but no one succeeds in doing so. Finally Alexander sends a naked maiden to pose as a decoy, and the creature is trapped. After close examination of the creature, Alexander orders it burnt.

Motif References:

S 112 Burning to death
F 521.1 Man covered with hair like animal
F 567 Wild man
K 750 Capture by decoy
K 778 Capture through the wiles of a woman

UvEAlx-22625: Traveling on, Alexander reaches a high mountain; a ladder of golden chains and 2,500 steps of sapphire lead to its top. Ascending the ladder, Alexander and three of his knights find a precious palace and a temple, both made almost completely of gold. The palace is called the house of the sun. Between the two buildings, a vineyard holds grapevines beset with the most precious jewels. In the palace, lying on a golden bed, they find an old white-bearded man, whose food is incense and balm. Kneeling down before the old man, Alexander asks him about his death. The old man tells him that two trees of the sun and moon will tell him his future; the goddesses Lachesis, Clotô and Atropos still look favorably on Alexander. They thank the old man and descend the mountain.

Motif References:

F 132 Otherworld on lofty mountain
M 310 Favorable prophecies
F 561 People of unusual diet
F 750 Extraordinary mountains and other land features
F 759.1 Mountain with marvelous objects at top
F 771.1.1 Golden castle (palace, house)
F 771.3 Extraordinary location of castle
F 787.2 Golden bed
F 813.2 Extraordinary grapes
F 813.2.1 Clusters of diamond and emerald grapes
F 848 Extraordinary ladder (stairs)
D 1610.2 Magic speaking tree
D 1812.3.4 (Bm) Future revealed by speaking tree

UvEAlx-22715: Traveling on, Alexander comes to a plain inhabited by large serpents, wearing a single emerald in their forehead. They feed on white pepper and are normally harmless. Next, Alexander encounters a dangerous race of monsters: walking on their hind-legs, these creatures have pig’s claws and faces, griffin’s wings and are three feet wide. Many of them are killed, but over 200 warriors die in the fight and are buried.

Motif References:

B 14 Other hybrid animals
B 15.1 Animal unusual as to his head
B 15.6 Animal with unusual legs or feet
B 16 Devastating animals
B 101.7 Serpent with jewel in head

UvEAlx-22775: Reaching a lake, Alexander makes camp and is visited by the land’s inhabitants. They bring gifts and provisions: extraordinarily large snail-shells, skins of sea-cows and mushrooms. They also bring red and white worms caught in the lake, whose taste is remarkably delicious, and 250 pounds of chestnuts.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
F 561 People of unusual diet

UvEAlx-22800: Living in the lake are snow-white maidens, their long hair covering their naked bodies. Their teeth are like those of a dog, and many Greeks are killed when Alexander sets out in boats to capture two of them.

Motif References:

B 81 Mermaid
B 81.9 Appearance of mermaid
B 81.9.5.1 Mermaid has white skin
B 81.13.11 Mermaid captured
F 544.3 Remarkable teeth
F 562.3.1 (Bm) People who live in water

UvEAlx-22816: Traveling on, Alexander reaches an island; rumor has it that this island’s inhabitants speak the Greek language. When the volunteers who swim out to the island are killed by giant crabs, Alexander leaves again.

Motif References:

B 16.5.1.2 Devastating (man-eating) sea-monster (serpent)
B 268.14 Giant crabs attack army
G 308 Sea-monster
B 876.2.1 Giant crab

UvEAlx-22845: Alexander takes his men to the country of Agragente; the people are called Smaragdî, after the many emeralds found in their lands. An army of 88,000 soldiers opposes Alexander’s army. In the battle, Agragente’s king Châlamus is captured and his army defeated. Châlamus says that it was prophesied that he would be defeated by Alexander; he is given his kingdom as a fief.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
M 356.1 Prophecies concerning outcome of war
M 359 Unfavorable prophecies – miscellaneous
M 369.5 Prophecies concerning invasion and conquest
M 370 Vain attempts to escape fulfillment of prophecy
M 391 Fulfillment of prophecy
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-22897: Neighboring Agragente is a fortified city; Alexander finds its gates closed and its walls deserted. When Alexander and some of his men climb the walls, they find the city to be completely deserted, the houses locked and barred. Suddenly Alexander is attacked by the city’s inhabitants who had been hiding. Alexander is wounded by a poisoned arrow but bravely defends himself, killing many of the attackers. Meanwhile Alexander’s men break the city walls and come to Alexander’s aid. He orders the city burnt down and the inhabitants killed.

Motif References:

S 110.10 (Bm) City and inhabitants willfully destroyed
S 112.0.1 City burned with all inhabitants
P 553.1 Poisoned weapons
F 766 Deserted city
K 810.1 (Bm) Ambush
F 831.3 Poisoned arrows

UvEAlx-22954: Alexander travels to a beautiful city on an island; he makes camp outside its walls. The city’s king, Ambrâ, is impecunious; to Alexander’s demand for subjection he replies that his only lord is god. Enraged, Alexander besieges the city, his wounds keeping him from fighting himself. The defenders kill many of Alexander’s men with poisoned arrows.

Motif References:

P 33 (Bm) Impecunious prince [king]
P 553.1 Poisoned weapons
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
F 831.3 Poisoned arrows

UvEAlx-22994: At night, the god Âmôn appears to Alexander in a dream, pointing out a special herb, the juice of which will cure the defender’s poison. Alexander collects the herb the next day, so that he and the wounded are cured of the poison. The city is defeated, its king flees to the sea. Alexander has the city walls destroyed, but mercifully accepts the inhabitants as his new subjects.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
Q 595 Loss or destruction of property as punishment
F 959.6 Marvelous cure for poison
D 1515.1 Remedies for poison
D 1731.2.3 (Bm) Dream of visit by god
D 1814.2 Advice from dream
D 1814.3 Advice from God (or the gods)

UvEAlx-23025: Alexander reaches a desert-like country inhabited by fierce unicorns. Their horns are sharp and jagged, piercing all shields. They kill countless Greeks before they can be overcome; only 8,400 warriors remain in Alexander’s army. Alexander has the dead buried and laments their fate.

Motif References:

B 13 Unicorn

UvEAlx-23057: Alexander travels on to a desert, inhabited by monstrous serpents with heads and horns of rams. A single blow of their horns kills a man. Alexander slays countless of the monsters with his men.

Motif References:

B 14 Other hybrid animals
B 16.5.1 Giant devastating serpent
B 91.3 Horned snake

UvEAlx-23080: Next, Alexander encounters the monstrous race of the Konocefalî. This giant people are armed with long staffs and have the neck and head of a horse and feet of a griffin; their teeth are fearsome and their breath is fiery. Many Greeks are killed before they can be put to flight.

Motif References:

B 20 Beast-man
B 21.2 Body and hands human, head and ears those of a horse
F 510.1 Monstrous races
F 517.1 Person unusual as to his feet
F 517.1.4 Person with claws on the feet.
F 531.0.3.1 (Bm) Group or tribe or army of giant men
F 531.1.6.2 Giant with [remarkable] teeth { like those of saw}
B 742 Animal breathes fire

UvEAlx-23104: Alexander and his army cross a river at a ford; making camp near the river, the army rests from their battles. At noon next day the warriors are woken up by the noise of their animals. They find many of them dead, killed by giant ants which have unearthed a great heap of gold beside the camp. These ants are the size of a wolf, they have six feet, fearsome claws and dog-like teeth. They are extraordinarily quick and flee from Alexander’s warriors. As the sun sets, the ants disappear underground as is their custom. The gold is divided among the warriors, and they travel on.

Motif References:

B 756 Gold-digging ants
B 873.4 Giant ant

UvEAlx-23157: Making camp in a valley between mighty mountains, Alexander’s camp is attacked by giants. They have a single eye set deep in their forehead and loud, booming voices. Alexander encourages his men, and finally they manage to put the giants to flight.

Motif References:

F 531 Giant
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 531.0.3.1 (Bm) Group or tribe or army of giant men
F 531.6.12.7 Giants driven away by men
F 531.1.1.1 Giant with one eye in middle of forehead [Cyclops]
F 556 Remarkable voice

UvEAlx-23193: Alexander and his army travel through a forest, where they see strange animals. They have a horse’s body, lions’ feet and are thirty feet high and 12 feet wide. As the Greeks approach they flee.

Motif References:

B 14 Other hybrid animals

UvEAlx-23207: On a plain Alexander discovers the palace of king Xerses. Inside it are countless birds’ nests, decorated with gold. The white doves of the palace have the ability to foretell a man’s future: sick people are carried into the palace. If the doves take notice of the sick person, he will be healed. If he is ignored, he will certainly die. This is inscribed in gold on one of the palace walls.

Motif References:

B 143.0.6 Dove as prophetic bird
A 2431 Birds’ nests

UvEAlx-23237: Traveling on, Alexander comes to a land inhabited by giant two-headed serpents. They have luminous, fiery eyes. In a forest nearby, monstrous monkeys with eight eyes and legs attack Alexander’s warriors with their sharp horns. The Greeks manage to pass them without any losses.

Motif References:

B 15.1.2.1.1 Two-headed serpent
B 15.3.4 Animal usually harmless has horns
B 15.4.1 Many-eyed animal
B 15.4.2 Beasts with fiery eyes
B 15.6.3 Animals with many legs

UvEAlx-23261: After a 15 day journey through a desert Alexander reaches the country of Prafîacâ. Riding out from his camp, Alexander finds an island in a river. The inhabitants of this island are headless, their faces are on their chest. They are seven feet tall and of a golden color.

Motif References:

F 167.5 Headless people in otherworld
F 511.0.1.1 Headless person with eyes (eye) and mouth on breast
F 527 Person of unusual color
F 531.1.2.1 Headless giant

UvEAlx-23289: Candaulus is the lord of Prafîacâ. In one its cities he plans his wedding and invites his mother and many guests. King Schoieranz of Berikôn abducts Candaulus’ designated wife, but is captured with his men by Alexander. Candaulus, in pursuit of the abductor, also arrives at Alexander’s camp. Despite Schoieranz’ offers of gold and vows of compensation, Alexander has him and his men judged and executed.

Motif References:

R 4 Surprise capture
R 10.1 Princess (maiden) abducted
P 19.2.1 King [prince] abducts woman to be his paramour.
T 132 Preparation for wedding
Q 213 Abduction punished
Q 411 Death as punishment

UvEAlx-23355: Candaulus thanks Alexander and invites him to his wedding. Candacis herself thanks Alexander and welcomes him; she crowns him and leads him into town, where the inhabitants present their gifts to Alexander. He is given accommodation in the beautiful palace.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
P 324 Host greets guest with gifts [Welcome and parting gifts]

UvEAlx-23421: Aristander, a wise man and philosopher, reprimands Alexander for his infidelity to his wife. When Alexander tells Candacis of Aristander’s counsel that he should leave her company, she bets that she will be able to humble the haughty master by riding him like a horse. The next day, Candacis lets herself be seen by Aristander in the dewy grass at dawn, seductively dressed in silk. Three times, he gazes at her longingly, but always resumes his reading. Finally, he addresses her, asking her what she is doing. She tells him that she is weak with a sickness, and asks him to carry her back to her room; however, she could not stand to be carried on his shoulders, as it would be inappropriate for a lady of her rank. So she manages to ride the wise man like a horse, while Alexander secretly watches from a window. When Aristander enters the palace on all fours, Alexander mocks him. Aristander regrets his earlier haughtiness and promises not to reprimand Alexander again concerning women.

Motif References:

P 20.1 Clever queen
T 55 Girl as wooer. Forthputting woman
M 201 Making of bargains and promises
M 202 Fulfulling of bargain or promise
T 481 Adultery
P 485 Philosopher
J 911 Wise man acknowledges his ignorance
K 1215 Aristotle and Phyllis: philosopher as riding horse for woman. The philosopher warns the king against uxoriousness, In revenge the queen beguiles the philosopher into letting her ride him on all fours. The king comes and sees
K 1580 Other deceits connected with adultery
K 1945 Imposition by sham sickness

UvEAlx-23529: Alexander travels on to the river Sunne; the king of the country welcomes Alexander, bringing gifts on elephants and carts. Alexander accepts him as his vassal.

Motif References:

P 324 Host greets guest with gifts [Welcome and parting gifts]

UvEAlx-23539: Alexander travels to the place where Pûcival died during his battle with Pôrus. He has the horse’s bones exhumed, wraps them in silk and has a magnificent grave built. He has a stone erected engraved with his deeds on Pûcival, and founds a castle with his dead horse’s name over the grave.

Motif References:

Z 703 (Bm) Eponymous account of city’s founding
F 778.1 (Si) Extraordinary grave

UvEAlx-23556: Alexander sends letters home to his mother and his teacher, describing his adventures and conquests. Both his mother and Aristotiles are happy about the news; in Greece, sacrifices are given to the gods in thanks for Alexander’s deeds.

Motif References:

V 11.9 Sacrifice to deity
V 17 Purpose of sacrifice

UvEAlx-23579: Alexander sends a scribe and gold to Babylon with the order to have two pillars of solid gold cast, showing Alexander’s deeds and his ambition to explore the sea. The first he has erected in Babylon, the second in Persia.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-23591: One day Alexander asks Ariolus to interpret a dream, in which Alexander was stabbed by Kassander. Ariolus tells him that the dream means that Kassander holds a grudge against Alexander. At the same time, Olimpiadis sends her son a letter telling him of a probable conspiracy of Antipater and his son Kassander against him. The letter ends with Aristotiles’ best wishes for Alexander’s future and his exploration of the seas.

Motif References:

H 617 Symbolic interpretations of dreams
D 1712.3 Interpreter of dreams
D 1812.3.3.0.4 (Bm) Interpretation of dream by second party
D 1812.3.3.0.3 Dream interpreter corrects dream
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

UvEAlx-23636: At the same time in Babylon, a woman gives birth to a child that is human from head to navel, but animal below the navel. The upper, human half is dead, the lower, animal half is alive. When Alexander is shown the child, he sends for Ariolus, who. tells him that the living animal half signifies the kings that are to succeed Alexander; they can not be compared to Alexander’s glory. Alexander prays to his god to look favorably on him and to grant him a longer life. A voice from the heavens tells Alexander that his time to die has not yet come, so he is relieved. [lacuna]

Motif References:

V 50 Prayer
V 57 Purpose of prayer
V 59 Prayers answered – miscellaneous
F 526 Person with compound body
T 551.5 Child born half man, half fish [animal]
N 819.7 (Bm) Voice from heaven encourages hero
F 966 Voices from heaven (or from the air)
D 1812.5.1.1 Prodigy as evil omen

UvEAlx-23682: Alexander visits Pôrus and is welcomed hospitably with all honors; tournaments are held, there is dancing and beautiful ladies. The author praises all men who can win a virtuous and merry lady’s heart.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-23712: Alexander still plans to explore the seas, so he leaves Pôrus’ court again, as the philosopher Valêrius tells us in his writings. The countries on his way are conquered by Alexander and his warriors. On his way he passes a country without a king; it is ruled by a maiden, whose brave father Zalancus, a virtuous and warlike king, was killed in a joust with a knight who had abducted a maiden. His wife died giving birth to the girl, Rôisse, who is incomparably beautiful. When she hears rumors of Alexander’s approach, she calls a council of her friends and nobles, who offer her assistance and troops in the probable battle against the Greeks. Soon, an army is assembled.

Motif References:

R 10.1 Princess (maiden) abducted
P 20 Queens
P 20.1 Clever queen
P 40 Princesses
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

UvEAlx-23877: Alexander is opposed by Rôisse’s armies under the command of Pôdius, one of Rôisse’s allies, who is secretly in love with her and eager to prove his virtue. After a hard battle, Pôdius is defeated and captured; Rôisse herself is captured with her maidens in a tent near the battlefield. Alexander has all the country’s nobles swear loyalty to him and installs them as his vassals, except Pôdius and Rôisse. All wounded are cared for, and all dead buried.

Motif References:

R 5 Capture on field of battle
T 29 Falling in love – miscellaneous
V 69.1 All dead are buried after battle
T 91.6.4.1.1 Princess falls in love with knight [Knight falls in love with princess]
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

UvEAlx-23905: Alexander comes to see the captive Rôisse to see if the rumors of her beauty are true. Although he is at once enchanted by her beauty and some of his men urge him to take advantage of the situation, he virtuously releases her from captivity; furthermore, anyone intending to harm the girl shall be punished by death. He gives her many presents, and when Pôdius asks his permission to marry her, he gladly agrees. For the generosity and nobility proven on this occasion, many mighty kings of the area willingly subject themselves to Alexander without a fight. Good deeds will be rewarded, both by men and God; evil will only reap the misfortune and punishment it deserves.

Motif References:

R 9.10 (Bm) Release from captivity
W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
W 11 Generosity
W 40 (Bm) Nobility
Q 42 Generosity rewarded
W 45 Honor
T 471.0.1 Fines [punishments] imposed for rape
M 500 (Bm) Threats
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
J 1174 Clever decisions concerning kissing and rape

UvEAlx-23997: As Lucânus reports, Alexander has channels dug between the rivers Ganges and Euphrates, connecting the waterways. He also has the river Phâsdôn connected to a river in Assûr. Alexander then sets out with his ships, traveling the new river-routes.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-24023: On the seas, the pirate Pirratas is known to raid all ships. When he hears of Alexander’s fleet, he plans to raid the richly provisioned and wealthy ships. He attacks the fleet’s rearguard and those ships late to catch up with the main body of the fleet, capturing its cargo and killing the crew. Soon he is feared and infamous among Alexander’s warriors.

Motif References:

P 475 Robber [thief, outlaw, pirate]

UvEAlx-24078: One day, Pirratas is caught in an ambush. Although he fights bravely, he is captured and brought before Alexander. When Alexander asks about the purpose of his raids, Pirratas answers that he is driven, just like Alexander himself. Alexander, angry at the pirate’s insolence of comparing himself to Alexander, threatens to have him executed. But Pirratas cleverly argues that it was poverty and misery that forced him to rob others; it would be unjust of a conqueror like Alexander, who had won his empire by taking it with force, to judge a small robber like himself. Alexander pardons Pirratas on the condition that he should lead a virtuous life from now on. Pirratas agrees, and, equipped with gold and presents from Alexander, he becomes a virtuous knight in his service.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
W 11 Generosity
W 11.5.1 Ruler pardons his enemies
M 500 (Bm) Threats
J 829 Dealing with the great – miscellaneous
J 1675 Clever arguing with a king

UvEAlx-24173: Alexander continues to travel the seas, conquering all island kingdoms on his route. After having conquered the surface of the sea, he now plans to explore its depths as well. he has a glass barrel made, the splices are ingeniously sealed with a mixture of glue, cotton, oil and bricks. The barrel is hung on strong iron chains; its neck is extremely long, to provide the diver with breathing air. Alexander, taking a cat and a cock with him, descends into the sea in his barrel. He sets his wife to watch over his descent, because he trusts her the most. (The author remarks that he himself prefers a horse or cart to any distance traveled on the sea, let alone under its surface.)

Motif References:

P 15.6 King descends to bottom of sea in glass barrel to study ways of fishes [ascends to the sky by griffins]
F 133.0.1 (Bm) Journey to bottom of sea
F 133.1 Marine counterpart to land
F 1022.1 Descent into ocean in glass box
H 1371.2 Quest for the bottom of the sea

UvEAlx-24235: Alexander, admonishing his wife to pull him out at his call, is lowered into the sea in his glass barrel. There he beholds the miracles of the underwater world, when suddenly his wife lets the chain slip. Some say it was to avenge her father’s death, but the author believes that the chains had simply become too heavy to hold. When Alexander notices that the chain has slipped, he immediately strangles the cock. The sea, as it is well known, does not bear cadavers, and so spits out Alexander with his barrel; his men collect him at the surface.

Motif References:

P 15.6 King descends to bottom of sea in glass barrel to study ways of fishes [ascends to the sky by griffins]
F 931 Extraordinary occurrence connected with sea
D 2151.1 Magic control of seas

UvEAlx-24274: The virtuous and learned bishop Albreht of Cologne claims in his writings that Alexander was in possession of a prassidis, a miraculous stone that protected and strengthened him.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-24285: When Alexander is rescued from the glass barrel, Rôxa approaches, fearful of punishment. She and Alexander’s men persuade Alexander of her innocence, and he starts to tell of his observations underwater. He paints the miraculous creatures and sights on a wall. Soon Alexander and Rôxa are reconciled.

Motif References:

T 298 Reconciliation [reunion] of (separated) couple

UvEAlx-24315: All kingdoms on islands or along the seashores subject themselves to Alexander willingly, bringing tribute and presents, especially as they have heard the tale of Rôisse and Pôdiô of Assûr.

Motif References:

P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]

UvEAlx-24339: Alexander now plans to explore the whole world. Master Tullius, who is called virtuous and wise by Seneca, warns Alexander about his insolence and of God’s punishment. Alexander is an exemplary king because he always takes a wise man’s counsel seriously. The author names a regent’s most important virtues: patience, modesty, constancy and truthfulness. Constancy in honor was proven by Alexander’s honorable treatment of Rôisse; patience by his dealing with Pirratas. Alexander is also modest and truthful, as he never spoke a lie to anyone and punished those that lied to him. A regent with these four virtues will rightfully reap honor and reward. The education of these four virtues must be started in childhood, as master Orâtius teaches.

Motif References:

P 12.10 King is superior to all in strength, beauty, largeness etc

UvEAlx-24429: Alexander reaches a well-fortified and rich city. A truce is arranged after a siege, when the citizens want to take council. During this truce Alexander rides out alone and loses his way. Next day, he finds a peculiar rock in the mountains; a door leads into the rock to an iron window, behind which a gate and a golden door can be seen. Alexander knocks politely, and the window is opened. An old white-bearded man greets Alexander; when Alexander tells him that he has come to receive tribute, the old man calls for another old, white-bearded man, who is nearly luminous in his whiteness. Although the two respond that this rock could never be damaged by Alexander, they give him a present of their own free will: a nut-sized, luminous stone. When Alexander inquires about the nature of their home, the two men introduce themselves as Elîas and Ênoch. They will remain here until they battle the Antichrist at doomsday. They tell Alexander that they have heard that no man before him has ruled so large an empire. Alexander leaves, riding back to his army.

Motif References:

Z 142 Symbolic color: white
F 451.4.3.1 Dwarf cave [hollow mountain] closed by iron doors
P 531 Taxation and payment of fines and tribute
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
P 558 (Bm) Truce
F 759.2 Hollow mountain
F 800 Extraordinary rocks and stones
F 809 Other extraordinary stones

UvEAlx-24578: The citizens of the besieged city have decided to surrender. Alexander accepts their submission and inquires about the stone he was given by Ênoch and Elîas. An old man steps up, but demands guarantee not to be punished for his words. He calls for scales; no weight, however large, can outweigh the stone. But when he covers the stone with a bit of sand, a single feather outweighs it. The wise heathen then explains that the stone symbolizes Alexander’s might: as long as he lives, nobody shall be his equal. After his death, all his achievements will be in vain. Thus, the author remarks, must the world’s glory end in death and weakness.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering
Z 100 Symbolism
J 191 Wise men
H 614 Explanation of enigmatic phenomenon
F 809 Other extraordinary stones
D 931 Magic rock (stone)
D 1682 Magic jewel which outweighs many heavy objects in the scale

UvEAlx-24649: Alexander travels back to Pôrus; he is welcomed hospitably and tells the tales of his adventures under the sea and of the miraculous stone. But still his ambition is not sated: next he wants to explore the sky. He has a carriage built and has two griffins, which were reared at Pôrus’ court, harnessed to the construction. Two pieces of carrion are hung before the griffins, and thus Alexander rises into the sky. Below him, he sees the world surrounded by the sea. Thus his wish to see all the world is fulfilled, and a melancholy settles on Alexander. The griffins tire from the great heat, and Alexander descends back to earth.

Motif References:

P 15.6 King descends to bottom of sea in glass barrel to study ways of fishes [ascends to the sky by griffins]
B 42 Griffin
F 60 Transportation to or from upper world
H 1371.5 (Hi) Quest for the sky

UvEAlx-24749: The griffins land Alexander’s craft in Candacis’ castle. She welcomes him, and he explains his sudden arrival. For a while, the two lovers secretly reside in Candacis’ chambers; finally, she tells her councilors of Alexander’s arrival. At first, he is ashamed at her disclosure, but is finally persuaded to stay for a few days. Then she gives him a good horse, and he returns to his army at Pôrus’ court.

Motif References:

N 737 Accidental reunion of lovers

UvEAlx-24833: Alexander asks his wise men about the underworld, since this region still does not pay tribute to him yet. They reply that these regions are populated by hellspawn, who have been expelled from heaven for their pride, because they wanted to be like God.

Motif References:

G 303.8 Devil’s expulsion from heaven and his present haunts
G 303.8.3 Devil in hell
A 671 Hell- Lower world of torment
A 671.2.5 Dragons [monsters] in hell

UvEAlx-24859: When Alexander inquires about the way to hell, a wise man tells Alexander of Lêviathân, hell’s lord, and his many porters, who live partly in this world. One of them is Gîtikeit (avarice), whose jaws gape wide open, others are Unkust (malice), Gelust (lust), Unzuht (crudeness) and Ungenuht (immoderateness). Hate, rage and fury personified are also among the porters of hell, as is Discordiâ. The fires of hell are filled with sinners from this world: usurers and receivers of stolen goods reside in hell, fighting each other and suffering from heat or cold.

Motif References:

F 150.2 Entrance to other world guarded by monsters (or animals)
G 303.8.3 Devil in hell
A 671 Hell- Lower world of torment
A 671.3.3 Alternate heat and cold in hell
A 671.1 Doorkeeper of hell
E 755.2.7 Devils torment sinners in hell
E 755.2 Souls in hell (Hades)

UvEAlx-24927: Despite the wise man’s terrifying account, Alexander still wants to explore hell and sets out to rid the world of hell’s monstrous masters. When the devil hears of Alexander’s endeavor, he fears defeat by the mighty king. He even prays to God for support, cleverly arguing that Alexander, if he were able to defeat the devil, might finally challenge God himself. The devil’s greatest fear, however, is the prophesied coming of the messiah, who will break the devil’s rule and free the Jews’ soul from hell.

Motif References:

V 50 Prayer
V 57 Purpose of prayer
G 303.25 Miscellaneous devil motifs
M 342 Prophecy of downfall of kingdom
M 363.1 Coming of Christ (Christianity) prophesied
M 369 Miscellaneous prophecies
P 715.1 Jews

UvEAlx-24979: Lêviathân and his army assemble at a place on earth where the sun never shines; here, many souls suffer from the perpetual cold. In a conversation with Natûre, nature personified, the devil argues that Alexander lives his life against nature’s own laws in his ambition and insolence. To the devils’ joy Natûre agrees that to do so is to live against God’s laws and decides to put Alexander’s life to an end. Lêviathân is pleased and announces the preparation of a special place in hell for Alexander. A deadly poison is prepared. The author remarks that anyone violating the laws of nature with his pride is doomed to die. God may forgive our sins to keep us from Lêviathân’s grasp.

Motif References:

S 111 Murder by poisoning
F 706 Land of darkness
E 755.2.5 Icy hell
E 755.2 Souls in hell (Hades)

UvEAlx-25043: Alexander, still searching for hell, crosses a mountain range, where he meets a strange people. The men are very small and plow the land, while their large women protect them with long staffs from griffins’ attacks, which snatch away their men to take them to their nests. Alexander takes two of these Picmei (pygmies), a woman and a man, with him.

Motif References:

B 17.2.2 Hostile griffin
B 42 Griffin
F 123 Journey to land of little men (pygmies)
F 535.4.1 Sexes of pygmies distinguished
A 1660 Characteristics of various peoples – in personal appearance.

UvEAlx-25073: Next, Alexander meets a strange race of creatures with only one eye, one arm and one leg. Despite their looks, these creatures are faster than any man. Alexander takes two of them with him.

Motif References:

F 512.1 Person with one eye
F 517.1.1.1 Person with one foot
F 525.3.1 Person with one foot, one hand and one eye
F 525.3 Tribe of one-eyed, one-footed and one-handed men
F 681 Marvelous runner [extraordinary speed of runner]
F 708 Countries with one conspicuous lack

UvEAlx-25091: Traveling on, Alexander reaches a land whose inhabitants are dog-headed; every third word they say sounds like a dog’s bark. This people, as the book of Herzog Ernst also tells us, is fierce and an enemy of all humankind. Any man entering their country will be attacked and torn apart by their fangs.

Motif References:

B 25.1 Man with dog’s head
B 25.1.2 Dog-headed people
F 510.1 Monstrous races
F 510 Monstrous persons
F 556 Remarkable voice

UvEAlx-25119: The only chance to escape from the dogheaded people is to hide in a tree: as soon as the pursuing doghead’s excellent nose has traced the fleeing person to this tree, he leaves to fetch an axe. Meanwhile, one can run to another tree further away. Back at the first tree, the doghead will drop the axe in frustration and continue his pursuit. Finding his victim on another tree, he will once again have to leave to fetch the dropped axe. Thus it is possible to escape the dogheaded people.

Motif References:

R 219 Escapes – miscellaneous
K 500 Escape from death or danger by deception
K 515 Escape by hiding.
K 650 Other means of escape

UvEAlx-25159: Alexander finally defeats the dogheaded people after many hard fights. He takes two of them with him.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-25163: Traveling on, Alexander reaches a country whose inhabitants have heads and long necks of cranes. Since they are peaceful, he leaves again unchallenged, taking two of them with him.

Motif References:

B 20 Beast-man
B 55 Man with bird’s head
F 511.0.9 Person with animal’s head

UvEAlx-25176: Alexander comes to a land whose inhabitants use their large feet to cover their bodies. He takes two of them with him.

Motif References:

F 517.1 Person unusual as to his feet
F 551 Remarkable feet

UvEAlx-25181: Alexander reaches an island whose inhabitants are said to be immortal. No matter how old they become, they do not die. If their bodies become too fragile and they wish to die, they are put on a boat and taken halfway to the mainland. There, their souls leave their bodies, and their bones, at once miraculously bleached and cleaned of their flesh, are taken back to the island.

Motif References:

F 134 Otherworld on island
F 172 No time, no birth, no death in otherworld
F 569 Unusual manner of life – miscellaneous
F 571 Extremely old person
F 730 Extraordinary island
C 921 Immediate death for breaking tabu
F 1041 Extraordinary physical reactions of persons
F 1041.1 Extraordinary death
D 1850 Immortality

UvEAlx-25212: Alexander reaches a high mountain, out of which a river flows with great force. On the other side of the plain, the river disappears into the mountain again in a waterfall. Alexander enters a small boat by the riverbank and rows upstream, where a statue points him downriver. When Alexander approaches the waterfall, another statue, standing over the waterfall, turns and shoos him away, signaling not to advance any further. Alexander has trouble returning upstream because of the strong currents and rapids of the river. This signifies the wisdom of staying in calm waters and of moderation in general.

Motif References:

F 162.2.11 Perilous river in otherworld.
H 614 Explanation of enigmatic phenomenon
F 715 Extraordinary river
D 1268 Magic statue (doll)
D 1620.1 Automatic statue of man
D 1639 Automata: other motifs

UvEAlx-25265: Alexander meets a wise heathen who tells Alexander that God’s domicile on earth is the garden of paradise; the scriptures say that the two ancestors of the human race were evicted from this place. Alexander promises riches to anyone showing him the way to paradise; his masters had told him that it was somewhere east of the Olimpus.

Motif References:

F 111 Journey to earthly paradise
M 260 Other promises
H 1257 Quest for the location of paradise
A 1331 Paradise lost

UvEAlx-25307: Soon natives of the land offer to take Alexander to paradise. They lead him to a wide river, covered by sweet-smelling flower blossoms large as hats. Crossing the river, Alexander finds a single hut, inhabited by a lone heathen peasant. He tells Alexander that his only nourishment is a special root, which enables him to resist the overpowering scent from the garden that is just a few days’ journey distant. Anyone not protected by the root would die of the overpowering desire to enter the garden. He gives Alexander and his men enough of the miraculous root, and they continue their journey.

Motif References:

F 111 Journey to earthly paradise
F 162.2.1.1 (Bm) Water or river flowing from paradise
F 169.9 Pleasant fragrance in otherworld
F 561 People of unusual diet
D 967 Magic roots
H 1257 Quest for the location of paradise
D 1385.2.6 Root protects from evil spirits

UvEAlx-25379: Traveling on, Alexander and his men see a distant building and a wall made of bright and luminous marble, but however hard they try, they can not get any closer. Alexander’s wise men are clueless; when Alexander decides to leave the plain, an old white-bearded moor approaches him and wordlessly gives him a strangely colored stone in the shape of an eyeball. He leaves, and the distant building and the wall are shrouded by fog. A heathen master explains the stone’s meaning: in the eyes of the greedy and haughty, even the whole world seems too small.

Motif References:

Z 100 Symbolism
F 148 Wall around otherworld
H 614 Explanation of enigmatic phenomenon
F 777 (Bm) Extraordinary wall
F 809 Other extraordinary stones
D 931 Magic rock (stone)
H 1257 Quest for the location of paradise
D 1606 Magic objects automatically keep out of reach

UvEAlx-25441: Alexander travels through a forest, where his men are attacked by giant fierce lions, which kill many warriors. Crossing a ford, the depth of which has been tested with a spear, Alexander’s men are attacked by the crocodiles of the river. Men and animals are killed by the beasts, whose jaws reek of death and decay. A native tells Alexander how to rout the fearsome beasts: a single man must secretly approach one of them and kill it with a special hook. The death-cry of the crocodile will put all others to flight. The trick works, and the crocodiles flee when one of them is stabbed by a volunteering knight.

Motif References:

B 16.5.2 Devastating crocodile
G 354.2 Crocodile as ogre
G 510.4 Hero overcomes devastating animal
B 871.2.5 Giant lion
K 929 Murder by strategy – miscellaneous
K 2324.1 Ferocious animal frightened by ass braying [by unusual sound]
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-25543: Alexander leaves the ford and makes camp on a plain. The nearby water-place is poisonous, and many men and horses die from drinking it.

Motif References:

N 332 Accidental poisoning

UvEAlx-25559: Alexander’s men are attacked by ipomites (hippopotamuses); these creatures are very large, their back is like a horse’s while their front resembles a bear. They live in the forest or water, and many Greeks are killed before the beasts can be defeated. Alexander has pits dug as traps for the beasts, and at night many hippos are trapped and killed. They still suffer greatly from thirst; the author prefers Bêheim and Prague to this misery.

Motif References:

B 768.5 (Bm) Hippopotamus as cannibal
K 2369 Military strategy – miscellaneous

UvEAlx-25607: Finally the Greeks reach a plain; the inhabitants of the land sell them provisions and honey-sweet, potable water. At night, thousands of large bats attack the men, biting their ears, noses and all areas not protected by clothes.

Motif References:

B 17.2 Other hostile animals
B 31.4 Giant bats

UvEAlx-25645: A nearby island that is covered by reeds tall as trees is inhabited by beautiful maidens; they are uncivilized and go naked. They hide during the day; at night, they sneak into Alexander’s camp and abduct many men unnoticed, who are still intoxicated and drugged by the sweet water. The next day, they show themselves to the rest of Alexander’s army, seductively luring the Greeks to come over to their island on their small boats. A native warns Alexander: the women have the habit of drugging their guests; this aphrodisiac incites the men to love them until they are exhausted and die. Alexander builds ships and sets over to the island, freeing his already weakened warriors. The maidens flee at his approach, but two are captured and taken with Alexander’s army.

Motif References:

R 10.6 (Bm) Knight abducted
R 39 Abduction – miscellaneous
F 112.0.1 Fairyland (Ireland) inhabited (settled) by women only
R 170 Rescue – miscellaneous motifs
N 332 Accidental poisoning
F 566.2 Land where women live separate from men
F 569 Unusual manner of life – miscellaneous
F 1041.1.5.4 Death from joy of kiss [love making]
K 1380 Seductions – miscellaneous
D 1905 Means of inducing love
D 1962 Means of inducing magic sleep
D 1976.1 Transportation during magic sleep

UvEAlx-25769: Traveling on, Alexander makes camp in a forest. Because the wood is too damp to light fires, Alexander’s men are attacked by wild beasts during the night: white lions and bats kill many Greeks. Alexander himself is saved from death by Tholomêus, who kills a lion that has leaped on top of Alexander. For fourteen days they travel through the forest, unable to light fires for warmth or cooking. Nobody dares to sleep without guards, because large snakes and toads attack them.

Motif References:

B 17.2 Other hostile animals
B 31.4 Giant bats
F 151.1.3 Perilous forest.
B 731.15 (Bm) White lion
F 812 Extraordinary forest

UvEAlx-25835: Finally Alexander leads his army out of the deadly forest. He sends messengers to the neighboring communities to request and buy provisions. On a nearby river Alexander sees a merchant ship, filled with food and provisions, anchored by the shore. The heathen merchant sells his cargo to the Greeks, after Alexander has promised him payment and honorable treatment: anyone harming the merchant will be punished with death.

Motif References:

M 200 Bargains and promises
M 201 Making of bargains and promises
P 431 Merchant
N 851 Merchant as helper

UvEAlx-25887: Alexander and his army rest on the lovely plain which is filled with delicious scents. His messengers return with empty hands: no provisions could be found. Alexander rides out with some of his knights and comes across a richly-clothed, but ugly and white-bearded moor. This man tells Alexander of two prophetic trees in a wood.

Motif References:

D 1311.4 Oracular tree

UvEAlx-25946: The next day, Alexander rides out; he tells his men of a dream he had the night before. A man is about to climb a large and magnificent tree; when he has almost reached its top, the tree shakes him off together with its branches and he falls to his death. Tullius interprets the tree as a symbol of wealth and honor; no secure footing can be found on this tree. He advises Alexander to keep his own position of wealth and honor secure, but Alexander replies that nothing can be gained without risk.

Motif References:

Z 100 Symbolism
H 617 Symbolic interpretations of dreams
D 1810.8.3 Warning in dreams
D 1812.3.3.5 Prophetic dream allegorical
D 1812.3.3.0.4 (Bm) Interpretation of dream by second party

UvEAlx-26007: Alexander reaches the designated wood; it is surrounded by a wall with a solid gate. A moor emerges, and Alexander tells him of his encounter of the day before and of his wish to see the prophetic trees. The man, warning him that a visitor has to be free of greed and lust, tells him to take off his rings and shoes and lets him enter.

Motif References:

F 148 Wall around otherworld
F 812 Extraordinary forest
D 1311.4 Oracular tree

UvEAlx-26036: Alexander asks the tree of the sun to tell him how long his empire will be under his command. A voice from the tree tells him that he will die in a year and 6 months. The tree of the moon tells him the same. When Alexander asks about the nature of his death, the trees tell him that he will die of poisoning, but refuse to tell him the name of his murderer. Saddened, Alexander leaves; on his way out he hears the parakeets chirping in Hebrew. A native tells him of another way back to India.

Motif References:

F 162.3 Tree in otherworld
M 341.1 Prophecy: death at (before, within) certain time
M 341.1.2 Prophecy: early death
M 341.2.8 Prophecy: Death by poison
D 1311.4 Oracular tree
D 1316.5.1 Voice comes forth from tree, revealing truth [future]
D 1610.2 Magic speaking tree

UvEAlx-26093: Alexander reaches the sea; there, he founds the city of Alexandrîe in his name. He crowns Tholomêô king and presents the city with lands and riches, freeing them from tribute and guardianship. Therefore, Alexandrîe is called “the free”. In addition, all ships stranded on the coasts near Alexandrîe will become property of the town. Alexander gives land to many of his men here and subordinates them to Tholomêô.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
P 361 Faithful servant [vassal]
P 532 Payment of tax (tribute) [toll]
Z 703 (Bm) Eponymous account of city’s founding

UvEAlx-26135: Alexander travels back to Babylon; he gives his men lands and presents, making them all rich. Rôxâ welcomes Alexander.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity

UvEAlx-26159: Bishop Albreht of Cologne tells us that one day, Alexander went to bathe in the river Euphrates which flows near Babylon. A serpent crawled out of the river and stole Alexander’s miraculous gem, the prassidis, dropping it into the river. One of Alexander’s wise men, Aristes, interprets this as an omen of his death by poisoning.

Motif References:

K 300 Thefts and cheats – general
N 352.3 Serpent steals jewels
D 838 Magic object acquired by stealing
D 838.1 Stolen objects powerful in magic
D 861 Magic object stolen.
D 1812.5.1 Bad omens
D 1812.5.1.12 Animal behavior as bad omen

UvEAlx-26203: Alexander welcomes nobles from all his lands at his court, generously presenting them with gifts and lands. He rewards his warriors richly for their loyalty in battle.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity

UvEAlx-26222: Alexander decides to send messengers to all the kingdoms and people still unconquered by him: Rome, the people of Britannia, the Franzoiser (French), the Ispâne (Spanish), Engellant (English), Provenz, Itâliâ (Italy) and the land of the Tiuschen (Germans). He invites the nobles of all of these lands to visit him in Babylon, and he begs them to bury all enmity, because he wishes them well. Precious clothes and fabrics arrive at Alexander’s court from all over his empire, and he generously gives away many of them to his vassals.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity

UvEAlx-26307: Alexander and his retinue rest by the banks of the river Strâgân, when Alexander begins to tell the tale of his previous visit to this place. That was when he rode to Darius’ court disguised as his own messenger. He tells of his encounters with the Persians, who mistook him for a god, and of his encounter with Darius himself. It was Darius’ custom to welcome the first person to greet him at dawn as a guest and to pardon all that person’s offences. Alexander recounts the tale of the stolen golden cups at Darius’ table, how he kept all the golden cups for himself, claiming that it was custom at Alexander’s court. Then he tells of his disclosure and his flight over the river that freezes at night.

Motif References:

P 13 Customs connected with kings
H 41 Recognition of royalty [nobility] by personal characteristics or traits
R 220 Flights
P 320 Hospitality
F 932.6.3 In dead of night waters of stream cease flowing [freeze] and stand perfectly still
K 1812.15 King disguised as own messenger

UvEAlx-26447: Returning to Babylon, Alexander meets a procession of Jews, led by Jaddus. They bring gifts, and Alexander generously grants them freedom from tribute. At the same time, Sannabâlâch arrives with the Samaritans. Alexander manages to reconcile the adversaries. He tells the Jews how he imprisoned the tribes of Gog and Magog, their hostile relatives. Sannabâlâch and Jaddus ask permission to build temples as penance for their previous conflicts, and Alexander agrees. The author remarks that today’s Jews are less noble than in Alexander’s time, calling them greedy and disloyal; they are the devil’s children.

Motif References:

W 35 Justice
W 40 (Bm) Nobility
Q 520 Penances
P 715.1 Jews
A 1660 Characteristics of various peoples – in personal appearance.

UvEAlx-26525: Messengers from Rome arrive, telling Alexander that the Romans want to accept him as their new ruler. Alexander rewards the messengers generously, and sends a letter of affirmation and thanks back to the senate and the consuls of Rome.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]

UvEAlx-26549: More messengers arrive from Engellant, Spangenlant (Spain), Italiâ, Britannia, Schottenlande (Scotland), Provenz, Frankrîche (France) and Germany. All of these kingdoms send presents and declare that they gladly accept Alexander as their ruler. Alexander sends the messengers back with gifts and letters of affirmation.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]

UvEAlx-26627: Antipater, whom Alexander left as phleger (governor) with his mother in Greece but who has fallen from grace with her, rides to Babylon. His son is Alexander’s chamberlain and confidant. On his way, Lêviathân’s whisperings persuade him to conspire against Alexander and to plot upon his death. In his audience with Alexander on the banks of the Euphrates, Antipater laments his fall from grace with Olimpiadis. Alexander remarks on the capriciousness of women and promises to reconcile him with his mother.

Motif References:

P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
M 260 Other promises
G 303.9.4 The devil as a tempter

UvEAlx-26749: Alexander prepares a magnificent feast on the plain between Euphrates and Babylon; he invites nobles from all of his empire. Beautiful maidens, magnificent kings, expensively clothed knights and citizens fill the plain; music, dancing and all entertainments are provided. The most beautiful lady is Rôxâ.

Motif References:

P 634 Feasts

UvEAlx-26849: One evening, Antipater gives his son Pâtrôn a vessel made of a hoof, filled with the poison Levîathân had prepared. Pâtrôn mixes Alexander’s wine with the poison; soon, Alexander begins to complain of pains in his chest. Pâtrôn also poisons the feather Alexander requests to rid himself of the poison by vomiting. When he gets even worse, he leaves and is taken to his chambers.

Motif References:

S 111 Murder by poisoning
K 929.1 Murder by (leaving) poisoned wine
K 2242 Treacherous steward
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]
K 2250.1 Treacherous servant
K 2297 Treacherous friend

UvEAlx-26914: Rôxâ and all of Alexander’s court lament Alexander’s condition; when Rôxâ has fallen asleep, Alexander crawls to the river, resolved to kill himself. Rôxâ wakes up in time and dissuades him from it.

Motif References:

J 628 Dissuasion from suicide

UvEAlx-26969: The next day, Alexander is even worse; Rôxâ advises him to dictate his last will to his scribe Simeôn. Alexander dictates his testament, dividing all of his kingdoms among his trusted nobles. Aristotilis is instructed to have golden statues of Alexander erected in all of his kingdoms, Tholomêus is set as Olimpiadis’ new guardian.

Motif References:

P 16.0.1 (Bm) Regicide
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]

UvEAlx-27047: When Alexander has finished his testament, mighty thunder shakes the earth. Alexander’s nobles and subjects fear his death and rush to his bed. Lamenting his state, they ask him to name a successor to his throne. He designates Perdicam as their new ruler. Then he dies. The lament and mourning of Rôxâ and all of Alexander’s subjects is extremely loud.

Motif References:

P 17 Succession to the throne
Z 292 Death of hero [heroine]
F 960.2 Extraordinary nature phenomena at death of holy [pious] person (hero)
F 968 Extraordinary thunder and lightning
F 1041.21 Reactions to excessive grief

UvEAlx-27077: Alexander’s corpse is brought to Babylon. He is buried in a grave of marble; the author muses about the transitoriness of honor and glory. Rôxâ has a small hut built by his grave, where she spends the rest of her days mourning for Alexander; she is taken care of by Cênôs, the governor of Babylon.

Motif References:

T 85 Woman mourns [supposedly] dead lover
P 681 Mourning customs
F 778.1 (Si) Extraordinary grave

UvEAlx-27111: After Alexander’s death, confusion and greed reign in his empire. In Greece, the son of Alexander’s cousin, also by the name of Alexander, takes care of Olimpiadis, who spends her days lamenting her son’s death. This Alexander and Antiochus, as the book Machabeôrum tells us, are reported to have penalized and harmed the Jews.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-27148: Tholomêus reigns in Egypt; he captures Pompêjus and extradites him to the Romans. He forces Babylon to exhume Alexander’s bones and has a magnificent grave and temple erected in Alexandrîe, where all of Alexander’s deeds and conquests are depicted in golden murals. He has a palace built for Rôxâ and Sisîcâmis, Darius’ mother. Tholomêus kills Antipater and Pâtrôn, avenging Alexander’s death. No murder, no matter how secret, will remain unpunished.

Motif References:

P 310.2 Friends avenge each other
F 773 Remarkable church (chapel, temple)
F 778 (Bm) Extraordinary tomb
F 778.1 (Si) Extraordinary grave

UvEAlx-27211: Many kings and nobles from all the world visit Alexander’s grave. Rôxâ exhumes and cleans Alexander’s bones, keeping them with her in the palace. This is verified by Lucânus, who writes that emperor Jûlius found the grave empty.

Motif References:

T 85 Woman mourns [supposedly] dead lover
T 85.4 Lover’s body [lover’s bones] kept (embalmed) for years by grieving mistress
P 681 Mourning customs

UvEAlx-27233: Alphunsus writes that eight wise men, the best philosophers of their time, visited Alexander’s grave to lament his death. They muse about the world’s transitoriness and the finality of death. Although Alexander ruled the whole world while he was alive, he now has only three feet of bare earth for his grave.

Motif References:

V 153 (Hi) Heroes’ grave

UvEAlx-27526: The book of Dânîel claims that Alexander was sent by God to punish the sinful world. Josaphât tells of Alexander’s sister, who enviously plotted Alexander’s death. The author goes on to condemn envy and jealousy; without virtue and modesty, no man will earn God’s grace and eternal life.

Motif References:

P 253 Sister and brother
K 2212 Treacherous sister.

UvEAlx-27597: The author describes how he got the materials for his story: the archbishop of Salzburg sent the scriptures to Uolrich with two knights of Prague, Eckehart of Dobringen and Kuone of Guotrât. Despite the bishop’s invitations and the promise of land, the author has refused to move away from the land of his birth. The author praises Wenzeslaw for his generosity, also remarking on his own po-verty.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-27643: One of Alexander’s nobles, Seleucus Nicânor, conquers Pontus and Asia. His double name signifies wisdom and bravery (like the heroic Nicânor of Alexander’s battles). He takes care of the mourning Rôxâ and raises her young brother Xerses to be king. As an adult, Xerses avenges Darius’ death by conquering Greece and burning down the city of Athênas.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-27675: Antigonus, also in Rôxa’s service, conquers many eastern kingdoms, faithful to his dead lord Alexander’s orders. Loyalty and faithfulness are rewarded by public honor and praise.

Motif References:

W 34 Loyalty

UvEAlx-27697: Alexander’s history was prophesied by Dâniêl; when he prayed to God to strengthen Darius’ reign, a man appeared and foretold the rise of a king who would defeat Darius and conquer all the world. Then this king’s reign would be scattered by the four winds, signifying Alexander’s four successors.

Motif References:

M 301.7 Biblical worthy as prophet
M 342 Prophecy of downfall of kingdom
M 369.5 Prophecies concerning invasion and conquest

UvEAlx-27728: This is the end of the book; the author prays to the virgin Mary and Jesus Christ to protect king Wenzeslaw, to whom he dedicates the book. The author begs his readers to forgive his simple-mindedness and artless poetry.

Motif References:

UvEAlx-27779: The book ends here. The author adds a lesson, given by a king to his son. The king advises his son to be virtuous by specifying the virtues of a king: faith, humility, temperance, benevolence and generosity. He tells the tale of the virtuous king Justinûs, whose son had blinded a servant in anger. The servant’s mother complains about the prince’s misdeed, and the king has one of his son’s eyes put out as punishment. The king’s epitaph praises Justinûs’ justice; Saint Paul himself prayed to God to release the noble heathen from hell. With numerous further admonitions to act and live virtuously, the book ends. Praise to God and the virgin Mary.

Motif References:

W 35 Justice
S 165 Mutilation: putting out eyes [blinding]
Q 451.7 Blinding as punishment

Romances of Antiquity

Ulrich von Etzenbach, Alexander (1278/83) Toischer, W. (ed.): Ulrich von Eschenbach, Alexander. (=StLV 183) Stuttgart 1888, Reprint Hildesheim 1974.

Ulrich von Etzenbach, Alexander (1278/83)
Toischer, W. (ed.): Ulrich von Eschenbach, Alexander. (=StLV 183) Stuttgart 1888, Reprint Hildesheim 1974.