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Overview
Hammed’s royal father-in-law is ill, and the prescribed remedy is lioness’s milk carried in a lion’s skin, borne by a lioness with a lion walking ahead. The six favoured sons-in-law go in search of it while mocking Hammed at his bakery. He obtains fine white riding equipment from his ring spirits and meets them in a different appearance. They promise payment for his assistance, and he asks for the apples their princesses gave them as tokens of choice. Having received these, he goes to the wilderness inhabited by the king of the lions.
Hammed brings an ox and kills it as a gift. The lion king speaks a welcome and invites him to state what he desires. He grants the required milk and its animal escort, but imposes a condition: the lions must be brought safely back to their wilderness home. Hammed repeats the condition when transferring the gift to the six men. They deliver the milk, ask their king to return the animals and release them in the wilderness. The sick ruler remains unwell, requiring further quests, but the lions’ stipulated release is fulfilled. The speaking ruler is a specific cooperative character, while no scientific lion population or actual medical efficacy is established by this folktale episode.
Origins & earliest records
Hans Stumme, Märchen der Schluḥ von Tázerwalt (Leipzig, 1895), tale 15, Die Geschichte von den beiden Knaben, die das Herz und den Kopf des Vogels gegessen hatten, und von der Bhalia Bint Manssor: complete German pp. 119–131. Abdulla Ben Mhammed, dictating contributor; recording context Preface v–vi.
Records & interpretation
Complete long German tale 15 read through all three medicinal quests, Bhalia’s invasion and defeat, wedding exposure and final family judgment. Head/ring and heart/justice roles distinct. Religious identities of individual villain characters are source framing, not evidence about communities.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Märchen der Schluḥ von Tázerwalt
Tale 15, whole German pp. 119–131; bird119–123, lion king125, Bhalia/carrier/guardian127–129, resolutions130–131; Preface v–vi.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary collected Tashelhit transcription with German translationOriginal bilingual collection: The Bird’s Head and Heart / Bhalia Bint ManssorResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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