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Le conte de la "Cinterella" et le motif de l’aigle, qui emporte le soulier de la fille, d’après les anciennes sources, Cinderellian ancient sources and the motive of the eagle that carries off her slippers

Β' Μελέτες και Έρευνες

• Ήμελλος, Στέφανος Δ.

The tale of Cinderella (AaTh 510A) is found in two ancient narratives which are given by the geographer Strabo (1C B.C. - 1C A.C.) and the writer Aelianus who deals with a great range of subjects (2C-3C A.C.)· According to these two narratives, which do not seem to depend on each other, an eagle transfers the shoes of the beautiful maiden Rodopi to the King (Pharao) who marries her in the end and she thus becomes queen.The author holds the opinion that the carrying off of the slippers by the King of the birds, the eagle, is a presage of the maiden’s rise to royalty, according to folk belief, which in fact takes place. To support his opinion he examines this particular episode in the tale to corresponding ones in various ancient, Byzantine and contemporary Greek narratives, as well as those of other peoples. The eagle for example flies high above particular persons in the tales to protect them from the sun, the rain e.t.c. These are going to be the future royalties.The author expands his point of view by presenting other tales which at first sight may seem irrevelant but they do in fact contain the symbolism of the eagle. The episode of the eagle with the beautiful maiden Rodopi (Cinderella) belongs to a cycle of similar narratives that are associated with Kings, or heads of dynasties which are of oriental origin but also with Roman emperors and others, where the eagle’s actions towards them are regarded as a presage of their rise to the throne.The myths of the oriental peoples (Babylonians, Persians, Phrygians et.c.) are considered as the oldest ones and are most probably the origin of other peoples’ myth production.

• Other Humanities

• Λαογραφία

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