So striking are the parallels between the heroic tales of the class to which the story of Siegfried belongs, that it has been possible for Dr. J. G. von Hahn, in his Sagwissenschaftliche Studien, to draw up a formula according to which the families belonging to the Aryan race have constructed their most admired tales. This formula, he says, exists more or less perfect in the heroic literature of every known Aryan people. Hellenic mythology produced no less than seven of these stories, of which the most striking are those of Perseus, Theseus, Œdipus, and Herakles; Roman mythological history, one—Romulus and Remus; Teutonic sagas, two—Wittich-Siegfried and Wolfdietrich; Iranian mythic history, two, and Hindu mythology, two, the most striking parallelisms occurring in the story of Krishna. Of this story Mr. Alfred Nutt has found eight variants in old Keltic literature, among them the story of Perceval. According to this formula
I. The hero is born
(a) Out of wedlock.
(b) Posthumously.
(c) Supernaturally
(d) One of twins.
II. The mother is a princess residing in her own country.
III. The father is
| (a) A god, or (b) A hero | from afar. |
IV. There are tokens and warnings of the hero's future greatness;
V. In consequence of which he is driven from home.
VI. Is suckled by wild beasts.
VII. Is brought up by a childless couple, or shepherd, or widow.