Motif
Birth-binding gesture and charm
birth_binding_gesture_and_charm
A motif of the Miraculous Child and Sacred Birth family, within the sub-family Birth and Early-Life Omens, Marks, and Tests. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
roman
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The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV EXPLANATION. / BOOK THE NINTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 2664-2745 confidence: high
Alcmena describes seven nights and seven days of labor, invoking Lucina and the Nixi; the goddess comes corrupted beforehand and sits on the altar with knees and fingers joined.
The goddess sits with knees and fingers joined and utters charms that impede the birth already begun.
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