30:
for posterity, and as such have both been studied as a narrative form in their own right, and for the riddles they contain. Such contests are a subset of wisdom contests more generally. They tend to fall into two groups: testing the wisdom of a king or other aristocrat; and testing the suitability of
715:
Christian
Schneller, in the 19th century, collected a tale from Wälschtirol (Trentino) that is quite similar to the Turandot stories: a king invades the neighbouring country and imprisons the royal couple, but their son escapes and is raised by a poor man. Years later, the boy travels to the enemy
631:
The text contains at least one riddle, examples of which are very rare in medieval Irish literature. When the hero returns to the hall to punish the excessive demands of its poets, his wisdom is tested through a number of questions, including the following riddle: 'What good thing did man find on
506:, the emperor of Iran. Manuchehr fears and wishes to dispose of Zal, but is advised that Zal will become an unrivalled hero of Iran, so Manuchehr tests him with riddles, mostly cosmological. Winning the riddle-contest is one of a number of steps for Zal to win the hand of
35:
catalogue two main folktale-types including riddle-contests: AT 927, Outriddling the Judge, and AT 851, The
Princess Who Can Not Solve the Riddle. Such stories invariably include answers to the riddles posed: 'the audience cannot be left dangling'.
967:
727:, a princess loves solving riddles. A Rajah's son falls in love with her portrait and disguises himself as a penniless pilgrim in order to get to know the princess, as part of his plan.
74:, attested on papyrus in the Roman period, showing that this type of story continued to circulate in Egypt. However, these tales do not involve riddles as such.
138:
32:
77:
These
Egyptian stories, probably via lost Greek material, seem to have been an inspiration for the account of a wisdom-contest between Pharaoh
52:
317:, involves a riddle-contest: the suitors need to answer all three questions to gain the Princess's hand, or else they are beheaded; In
70:
934:
Ioannis M. Konstantakos, "Trial by Riddle: The
Testing of the Counsellor and the Contest of Kings in the Legend of Amasis and Bias",
843:
Ioannis M. Konstantakos, "Trial by Riddle: The
Testing of the Counsellor and the Contest of Kings in the Legend of Amasis and Bias",
830:
Ioannis M. Konstantakos, "Trial by Riddle: The
Testing of the Counsellor and the Contest of Kings in the Legend of Amasis and Bias",
1056:
Gutierrez, Maria. (2006). "El tonto que propuso una adivinanza imposible de acertar: una versión madrileña del cuento ATU 851". In:
565:
46:
683:, a beautiful yet cold princess who proposes deadly riddles for her suitors. The tale was originally present in compilation
651:
1087:
588:
309:
303:
716:
kingdom and learns that their parents are alive and the princess is testing potential suitors with deadly riddles.
314:
91:
253:
describes Homer being prophesied to die upon failing to solve some children's riddle. The story is also told by
276:
208:
9.1–12). This inspired various later works: four riddles are ascribed to her in the tenth- or eleventh-century
936:
736:
873:
Demonizing the Queen of Sheba: Boundaries of Gender and
Culture in Postbiblical Judaism and Medieval Islam
913:
Annikki
Kaivola-Bregenhøj, "Riddles: Perspectives on the Use, Function, and Change in a Folklore Genre",
741:
626:
541:
tells twenty-four tales, each culminating in a riddle. Unusually, the challenge here is for the hero to
694:
602:
216:
1092:
118:
117:
The following list is based on the survey by
Christine Goldberg. A fuller collection is offered by
214:. These plus another fourteen or fifteen tests of wisdom, some of which are riddles, appear in the
205:
23:
399:
156:
26:
featuring riddle-contests. They frequently provide the context for the preservation of ancient
1077:
281:
1082:
1061:
918:
697:
664:
555:
485:
472:
332:
294:
210:
986:
The
Reception of Hervarar saga ok HeiĂ°reks from the Middle Ages to the Seventeenth Century
746:
701:
642:
342:
181:
148:
105:
57:
307:. A young prince wins a bride through a riddle-contest. The related story of Turandot in
617:
533:
432:
201:
193:
160:
82:
1071:
988:, Münchner Nordistische Studien, 14 (München: Herbert Utz Verlag, 2013), pp. 190–238.
390:
356:
267:
236:
61:
50:, from the first half of the second millennium BC, closely followed by the Egyptian
670:
442:
222:
321:'s opera, Turandot grimly warns Calaf "the riddles are three, but Death is one".
1041:
Legends of Ceylon In Fairy Tales: eké mat eké rataké (once in a certain country)
962:
751:
690:
685:
423:
168:
511:
446:
428:
250:
720:
579:
503:
494:
78:
44:
The earliest example of a wisdom contest between kings is the Sumerian epic
103:
also drew on similar stories of wisdom contests in various versions of the
859:, ed. by Marjorie Dundas (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2002).
654:", a peasant-girl wins the king in marriage by solving a riddle he poses.
680:
524:
413:
372:
99:, which originated around the fourth century BC (chs 102–8, 111–23). The
86:
597:
507:
376:
318:
197:
189:
972:
538:
463:
450:
437:
254:
164:
27:
922:
808:, Garland Folklore Library, 7 (New York: Garland, 1993), pp. 10–11.
475:. Imrou-l-Qais will only marry the woman who can solve his riddle.
403:. Antiochus tests Apollonius's suitability to marry his daughter.
245:
56:, fragmentarily attested in a thirteenth-century BC papyrus about
996:
994:
953:(Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1948), pp. 25–30.
593:
95:. At least one of Plutarch's sources was probably shared by the
1004:, Garland Folklore Library, 7 (New York: Garland, 1993), p. 37.
821:, Garland Folklore Library, 7 (New York: Garland, 1993), p. 39.
917:, 10 (Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society, 2001), pp. 11–12;
867:
865:
499:
346:. Ahikar helps his king by solving riddles posed by a rival.
891:(Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1948), p. 41.
883:
881:
226:
also contains three riddles posed by the Queen to Solomon.
453:
and then defeats one Bandin in a further wisdom-contest.
904:, Garland Folklore Library, 7 (New York: Garland, 1993).
795:, Garland Folklore Library, 7 (New York: Garland, 1993).
774:, Garland Folklore Library, 7 (New York: Garland, 1993).
280:. The riddle-contest is first alluded to in a play by
767:(Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1948).
1017:(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), pp. 114–15.
1002:Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851
902:Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851
819:Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851
806:Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851
793:Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851
772:Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851
435:, a series of riddles posed by a nature-spirit (
380:(2: 345–449). A woman poses riddles at a party.
632:earth that God did not find?—A worthy master.'
700:and the more famous opera by Italian composer
569:. Suitors to a princess must answer a riddle.
875:. University of Chicago Press, 1993, pp. 9-17
85:helps the Pharaoh by solving the riddles, in
16:Traditional stories featuring riddle-contests
8:
1015:Irish Influence on Medieval Welsh Literature
81:and the king of Ethiopia, in which the sage
834:, 55 (2004), 85–137 (pp. 87 n. 3, 89–90).
725:The Riddle Princess: Terávili Kumari Kava
123:
1030:. Innsbruck: Wagner. 1867. pp. 132-137.
784:
408:Taylor 1948, 41; Goldberg 1993, 18–20.
220:(1430 CE). The early medieval Aramic
33:Aarne–Thompson classification systems
7:
857:Riddling Tales from Around the World
600:to answer his riddles, known as the
66:The Quarrel of Apophis and Segenenre
53:The Quarrel of Apophis and Seqenenre
973:https://www.jstor.org/stable/45763
71:Tale of Setne Khamwas and Si-Osire
14:
1028:Märchen und Sagen aus Wälschtirol
940:, 55 (2004), 85–137 (pp. 111–13).
1043:. Colombo: Platé, 18. pp. 45-51.
449:, who answers the riddles posed
445:. III.134 contains the story of
369:The Dinner of the Seven Wise Men
313:, which was the inspiration for
951:The Literary Riddle before 1600
889:The Literary Riddle before 1600
765:The Literary Riddle before 1600
304:Kahramâneh and the Young Prince
89:'s first- or second-century AD
47:Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta
31:a suitor. Correspondingly, the
1:
971:, 43.2 (June 1928), 397-446,
915:Studia Fennica, Folkloristica
490:tenth or eleventh century CE
327:Goldberg 1993, 25–26; 29–31.
186:seventh to sixth century BCE
153:eighth to sixth century BCE
129:(main or original) language
652:The Peasant's Wise Daughter
498:. A riddle-contest between
418:fourth or fifth century CE
365:Septum sapientium convivium
361:first or second century CE
310:One Thousand and One Nights
241:sixth or fifth century BCE
92:Convivium Septem Sapientium
1109:
791:E.g. Christine Goldberg,
589:Hervarar saga ok HeiĂ°reks
514:faces a wisdom-contest.
299:first century BCE or CE
200:with riddles (including
1013:Patrick Sims-Williams,
937:Classica et Mediaevalia
845:Classica et Mediaevalia
832:Classica et Mediaevalia
737:The Riddle (fairy tale)
135:text title and summary
68:is echoed in the later
1026:Schneller, Christian.
965:, 'Rose and Cypress',
622:thirteenth century CE
612:Goldberg 1993, 31–34.
584:thirteenth century CE
574:Goldberg 1993, 27–28.
519:Goldberg 1993, 26–27.
458:Goldberg 1993, 20–22.
385:Goldberg 1993, 16–17.
289:Goldberg 1993, 13–15.
277:Oedipus and the Sphinx
262:Goldberg 1993, 15–16.
231:Goldberg 1993, 22–24.
176:Goldberg 1993, 17–18.
171:at his wedding feast.
167:poses a riddle to the
742:The Ridere of Riddles
679:The tale of Princess
627:Imthecht na Tromdaime
480:Goldberg 1993, 24-25
1000:Christine Goldberg,
984:Jeffrey Scott Love,
900:Christine Goldberg,
847:, 55 (2004), 85–137.
817:Christine Goldberg,
804:Christine Goldberg,
770:Christine Goldberg,
529:eleventh century CE
315:several modern plays
132:earliest known date
113:List of riddle-tales
1088:Traditional stories
650:In the Grimm tale "
637:Goldberg 1993, 37.
550:Goldberg 1993, 25.
351:Goldberg 1993, 17.
125:
58:the Pharaoh Apophis
24:traditional stories
1060:, NÂş. 3, 2006 (in
1058:Culturas populares
695:commedia dell'arte
603:Gátur Gestumblinda
400:Apollonius of Tyre
337:fifth century BCE
272:fifth century BCE
196:. The queen tests
124:
1039:Van Dort, Aline.
713:
712:
468:tenth century CE
431:.311-12 contains
395:third century CE
282:Epicharmus of Kos
1100:
1044:
1037:
1031:
1024:
1018:
1011:
1005:
998:
989:
982:
976:
960:
954:
947:
941:
932:
926:
911:
905:
898:
892:
885:
876:
869:
860:
854:
848:
841:
835:
828:
822:
815:
809:
802:
796:
789:
566:Gul and Sanaubar
545:solve a riddle.
471:The marriage of
217:Midrash ha-Ḥefez
211:Midrash Proverbs
126:
1108:
1107:
1103:
1102:
1101:
1099:
1098:
1097:
1068:
1067:
1053:
1051:Further reading
1048:
1047:
1038:
1034:
1025:
1021:
1012:
1008:
999:
992:
983:
979:
961:
957:
949:Archer Taylor,
948:
944:
933:
929:
923:10.21435/sff.10
912:
908:
899:
895:
887:Archer Taylor,
886:
879:
871:Jacob Lassner,
870:
863:
855:
851:
842:
838:
829:
825:
816:
812:
803:
799:
790:
786:
781:
763:Archer Taylor,
760:
747:A Riddling Tale
733:
702:Giacomo Puccini
689:, and inspired
675:
673:
157:Samson's riddle
119:Marjorie Dundas
115:
106:Story of Ahikar
42:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1106:
1104:
1096:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1070:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1052:
1049:
1046:
1045:
1032:
1019:
1006:
990:
977:
955:
942:
927:
906:
893:
877:
861:
849:
836:
823:
810:
797:
783:
782:
780:
777:
776:
775:
768:
759:
756:
755:
754:
749:
744:
739:
732:
729:
711:
710:
708:
705:
677:
667:
661:
660:
658:
655:
648:
645:
639:
638:
635:
633:
623:
620:
614:
613:
610:
607:
585:
582:
576:
575:
572:
570:
562:
559:
552:
551:
548:
546:
534:Baital Pachisi
530:
527:
521:
520:
517:
515:
491:
488:
482:
481:
478:
476:
469:
466:
460:
459:
456:
454:
433:Yaksha Prashna
419:
416:
410:
409:
406:
404:
396:
393:
387:
386:
383:
381:
362:
359:
353:
352:
349:
347:
343:Tale of Ahikar
338:
335:
329:
328:
325:
322:
300:
297:
291:
290:
287:
285:
273:
270:
264:
263:
260:
258:
242:
239:
233:
232:
229:
227:
194:Queen of Sheba
187:
184:
178:
177:
174:
172:
161:Book of Judges
154:
151:
145:
144:
141:
136:
133:
130:
114:
111:
83:Bias of Priene
41:
38:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1105:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1063:
1059:
1055:
1054:
1050:
1042:
1036:
1033:
1029:
1023:
1020:
1016:
1010:
1007:
1003:
997:
995:
991:
987:
981:
978:
974:
970:
969:
964:
959:
956:
952:
946:
943:
939:
938:
931:
928:
924:
920:
916:
910:
907:
903:
897:
894:
890:
884:
882:
878:
874:
868:
866:
862:
858:
853:
850:
846:
840:
837:
833:
827:
824:
820:
814:
811:
807:
801:
798:
794:
788:
785:
778:
773:
769:
766:
762:
761:
757:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
740:
738:
735:
734:
730:
728:
726:
722:
717:
709:
706:
703:
699:
696:
692:
688:
687:
682:
678:
672:
668:
666:
663:
662:
659:
656:
653:
649:
647:uncertain CE
646:
644:
641:
640:
636:
634:
630:
628:
624:
621:
619:
616:
615:
611:
608:
605:
604:
599:
598:King HeiĂ°rekr
595:
591:
590:
586:
583:
581:
578:
577:
573:
571:
568:
567:
563:
560:
557:
554:
553:
549:
547:
544:
540:
536:
535:
531:
528:
526:
523:
522:
518:
516:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
496:
492:
489:
487:
484:
483:
479:
477:
474:
470:
467:
465:
462:
461:
457:
455:
452:
448:
444:
440:
439:
434:
430:
426:
425:
420:
417:
415:
412:
411:
407:
405:
402:
401:
397:
394:
392:
391:Ancient Greek
389:
388:
384:
382:
379:
378:
374:
370:
366:
363:
360:
358:
357:Ancient Greek
355:
354:
350:
348:
345:
344:
339:
336:
334:
331:
330:
326:
323:
320:
316:
312:
311:
306:
305:
301:
298:
296:
293:
292:
288:
286:
283:
279:
278:
274:
271:
269:
268:Ancient Greek
266:
265:
261:
259:
256:
252:
248:
247:
246:Homer's death
243:
240:
238:
237:Ancient Greek
235:
234:
230:
228:
225:
224:
219:
218:
213:
212:
207:
206:II Chronicles
203:
199:
195:
191:
188:
185:
183:
180:
179:
175:
173:
170:
166:
162:
158:
155:
152:
150:
147:
146:
142:
140:
137:
134:
131:
128:
127:
122:
120:
112:
110:
108:
107:
102:
101:Aesop Romance
98:
97:Aesop Romance
94:
93:
88:
84:
80:
75:
73:
72:
67:
63:
62:Seqenenre Tao
59:
55:
54:
49:
48:
39:
37:
34:
29:
25:
21:
1057:
1040:
1035:
1027:
1022:
1014:
1009:
1001:
985:
980:
966:
958:
950:
945:
935:
930:
914:
909:
901:
896:
888:
872:
856:
852:
844:
839:
831:
826:
818:
813:
805:
800:
792:
787:
771:
764:
724:
718:
714:
684:
671:12th century
625:
601:
587:
564:
542:
532:
493:
473:Imrou-l-Qais
443:Yudhishthira
436:
422:
398:
375:
368:
364:
341:
308:
302:
275:
244:
223:Targum Sheni
221:
215:
209:
204:10.1–13 and
116:
104:
100:
96:
90:
76:
69:
65:
51:
45:
43:
20:Riddle-tales
19:
18:
1093:ATU 850-999
963:Kemp Malone
752:Riddle joke
691:Carlo Gozzi
686:Haft Peykar
596:challenges
451:King Janaka
424:Mahabharata
169:Philistines
143:references
1072:Categories
779:References
721:Sri Lankan
592:. The god
561:uncertain
512:Buzurjmihr
447:Ashtavakra
373:Plutarch's
251:Heraclitus
40:Background
580:Old Norse
504:Manuchehr
495:Shahnameh
159:. In the
139:AT number
79:Amasis II
1078:Folklore
731:See also
698:Turandot
681:Turandot
609:cf. 927
525:Sanskrit
510:. Also,
414:Sanskrit
192:and the
87:Plutarch
1083:Riddles
1062:Spanish
758:Sources
665:Persian
556:Persian
508:Rudabeh
486:Persian
377:Moralia
333:Aramaic
319:Puccini
295:Aramaic
202:I Kings
198:Solomon
190:Solomon
28:riddles
723:tale,
643:German
539:vetala
464:Arabic
438:yaksha
255:Hesiod
182:Hebrew
165:Samson
149:Hebrew
719:In a
707:851A
676:1926
674:1762
618:Irish
594:Ă“Ă°inn
441:) to
371:) in
968:PMLA
669:ca.
657:875
537:. A
502:and
421:The
340:The
324:851
60:and
22:are
919:doi
693:'s
543:not
500:Zal
429:III
1074::
1064:).
993:^
880:^
864:^
704:.
606:.
558:?
427:.
284:.
257:.
249:.
163:,
121:.
109:.
64:.
975:.
925:.
921::
629:.
367:(
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