The first story, about the giant and the flood was very interesting, it was not something that I had encountered before. I thought it was interesting how this introduced phoenixes into the mythology, as well as alcohol, as explanations for why they are what they are.
The story of the Beggar King is somewhat reminiscent of the story of "The Prince and the Pauper" where a somewhat similar situation takes place. I wonder if it was inspired by this story.
I find some mythological explanations for certain events quite interesting and clever, but I have to say that the reason given in this story of cats and dogs to be a little disappointing. Dogs and cats hate each other because cats are jerks? I guess that is true, but I couldn't help feel like there should be more to this story.
The story of the water-babe was quite interesting. I had never heard of the backstory of Jethro, and although his conversion to Judaism seems implausible, I like the idea of him using the same staff that would eventually become Moses's.
The story of King David and his encounter with the lion is interesting, as I believe that he does eventually kill a lion (or wrestles it or something) but in this instance he only escaped from it on a deer. Again, unicorns are prevalent, which was something that had been in the first story as well.
Elijah the prophet holds a very special place in the hearts of the Jewish people, and hearing about his miraculous construction of a palace fits in very well with his mystique. Not only did he never die, according to legend, but perfomed amazing small miracles throughout his entire life (like making an axe that someone had dropped into a lake float).
Source: Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919).
The story of the Beggar King is somewhat reminiscent of the story of "The Prince and the Pauper" where a somewhat similar situation takes place. I wonder if it was inspired by this story.
I find some mythological explanations for certain events quite interesting and clever, but I have to say that the reason given in this story of cats and dogs to be a little disappointing. Dogs and cats hate each other because cats are jerks? I guess that is true, but I couldn't help feel like there should be more to this story.
The story of the water-babe was quite interesting. I had never heard of the backstory of Jethro, and although his conversion to Judaism seems implausible, I like the idea of him using the same staff that would eventually become Moses's.
The story of King David and his encounter with the lion is interesting, as I believe that he does eventually kill a lion (or wrestles it or something) but in this instance he only escaped from it on a deer. Again, unicorns are prevalent, which was something that had been in the first story as well.
Elijah the prophet holds a very special place in the hearts of the Jewish people, and hearing about his miraculous construction of a palace fits in very well with his mystique. Not only did he never die, according to legend, but perfomed amazing small miracles throughout his entire life (like making an axe that someone had dropped into a lake float).
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| Perhaps it was a palace like this that was constructed overnight |
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