Greek Legends about Fairies and Related Tales of Magic

Abstract

In some Greek legends and folktales – as elsewhere – we meet the following narrative pattern: fairies dancing in the moonlight, or birds bathing in a pond; taking away her plumage or her scarf, the hero comes into possession of a supernatural wife – a fairy or an enchanted animal with the power of transformation. Years later, she recovers her wings or scarf and leaves her husband. This part is common and stable in legends and tales of magic while the recovery of the supernatural wife is the essential part of the folktale plot (ATU 400).