Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

condemned being escapes execution by returning to water

condemned_being_escapes_execution_by_returning_to_water

A motif of the Sacred Waters and Passage Through Water family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


hawaiian

  • Hawaiian Folk Tales: A Collection of Native Legends XXIII / KANEAUKAI / A LEGEND OF WAIALUA / THE SHARK-MAN, NANAUE; lines 6680-6781 confidence: medium

    Reports of the shark-mouth, Nanaue's shark-like actions, disappearances near his pools, and his warnings persuade Umi, who orders a large fire and Nanaue to be burned alive.

    Nanaue is sentenced to burning, breaks his bonds, runs to the pool opening to the sea, leaps into the water, transforms into a shark, and swims away.

    read in the book