Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

bribe for silence followed by betrayal

bribe_for_silence_followed_by_betrayal

A motif of the Betrayal and Violated Trust family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


greek

  • Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica II. 1745 / THE SHIELD OF HERACLES / THE MARRIAGE OF CEYX / THE GREAT EOIAE; lines 4886-4903 confidence: high

    Battus lives on top of a rock, hears the heifers, recognizes the cattle as stolen, asks for a reward to tell no one, and swears silence after Hermes promises the reward.

    Battus first seeks a reward for silence and swears secrecy, then accepts a robe and reveals the cattle.

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