Striga
The Prince and the Ogress
After a sheltered and protected childhood, a prince is at last allowed to go hunting, accompanied by one of his advisors. When they spot game, the advisor tells the prince to follow it himself, and the prince becomes lost; the advisor returns to court and reports that the prince was killed. Meanwhile, the prince encounters a weeping maiden who explains that she is a princess, and that she had fallen off her horse and been separated from her travelling companions; he offers to help her return to civilisation. They ride together for a while, until they come to a ruin, and the maiden asks to go a refresh herself in private. After she has been gone a little while, the prince follows her, and spies her in the company of malevolent creatures - ogers, demons or ghouls - who greet her as one of them, and respond delightedly to the news that she has caught a man for them. Terrified, the prince hurries back to his horse, and when the ogress returns (disguised again as a maiden), he cannot hide his shaking. She asks what is wrong, and he replies that he is afraid of someone powerful who wishes him harm. Thinking philosophically, the ogress suggests that he use his power as the king's son - or the wealth that comes with that - to protect himself, but the prince replies such things will not help. Finally, the ogress suggests that he pray to God for deliverance; loudly, the prince cries out to God for help, and she falls writhing to the ground and cannot rise, and the prince rides away safely.
[From Epstein, and Fudge, One Hundred and One Nights (2016). Added by Jane Bonsall]
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In Mishle Sendebar, the story Striga and Fons combines this narrative with the story of the gender-changing fountain. Nishimura notes some relevant motifs and analogues: Motifs: TMI G405 Man on hunt falls into ogre’s (witch’s) power. N451 Secrets overheard from animal (demon) conversation. N771 King (prince) lost on hunt has adventures. V52 Miraculous Power of Prayer. ATU817* Devil leaves at mention of God’s name. Analogues and reference stories: Arabian Nights, Night 5 ‘The Tale of the Traitorous Minister’; Galland, Les mille et une Nuits, ‘Histoire du Vizir puni‘; Golden Legend, 11 ‘St. Thomas of Canterbury’. |
| Critical Literature |
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| Nishimura (2001), Clouston (1884), Epstein (1967) |
| Striga appears in the following versions and secondary versions |
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| Striga appears in the following manuscripts |
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