The Tale of The Pied Piper: A Strange Amalgam of Truth and Myth
by The legend is certainly not the first, not is it the only one, of its kind. Remarkably similar tales of pipers who spirit away children figure in folklore all over Europe and throughout the Middle East. But unlike most of the other folktales, the Hamelin story gives precise dates, contradictory though they may be.
The Tale of The Pied Piper: A Strange Amalgam of Truth and Myth
In 1284 the small town of Hamelin, in German, was plagued with rats, to the desperation of its inhabitants and mayor. One day a mysterious piper appeared, dressed in a long, multicolored coat. He offered to get rid of the rats for a fee. The mayor and the townspeople gladly agreed to his suggestion.
The piper took out his pipe. No sooner did he begin to play than rats came scurrying out of the houses, enchanted by the magical sound of his music. The piper lured the rats out of the town and into the River Weser, where they all plunged into the water and drowned.
The job done, the piper went back to the town to receive his payment. But the townsfolk refused to pay him. Enraged, the piper exacted a grim revenge. He took up his pipe once more, but this time it was the children who came running out into the street, charmed by the notes. They danced away with the piper to nearby Koppelberg mountain, where an enormous cavern opened and swallowed them up; they were never seen again.
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Post Commentcardy
On October 18, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Wow I loved this well done you, fab work enjoyed the read!
Snooky
On October 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Sort of brings to mind cult leaders who spirit our young people away with false promises and empty hopes. These modern day pied pipers leave us with the same emptyness and loss as the fabled ones did. But they are all too real.
Very good article–enjoyable reading.
Bo Russo
On October 18, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Bizarre.
ken bultman
On October 18, 2009 at 4:57 pm
The Piper story is probably a myth but I really enjoyed the historical events you mention in this great article.
Shirley Shuler
On October 18, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I am sure the story of the Pied Piper is a myth but I enjoyed every minute reading this article!
Tanya Wallace
On October 18, 2009 at 8:10 pm
You always write about remarkable tales presenting both the facts and the fiction making them so enjoyable to read. Excellent work by all standards Mr Ghaz!!
William J Felchner
On October 18, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Another interesting read from Mr. Ghaz. The Pied Piper legend does resonate with some of today’s cults. I’m reminded of the Heaven’s Gate slaughter. The disciples donned brand new Nikes before committing mass suicide at the direction of their own twisted Pied Piper, Marshall Applewhite. Wonder if they ever made it to the spaceship trailing the Hale-Bopp comet? I think not.
hollynoel001
On October 18, 2009 at 9:27 pm
a great article describing the theory behind a myth or forklore of the Pied Piper very interesting
)
Ruby Hawk
On October 18, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I have a feeling something actually happened to the children but we will never know for sure.
Susan
On October 18, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Pied means many-colored, or of more than one color. So I wonder if the pied in pied piper referred to his clothes, or to him personally? Interesting conjecture in this article.
black mask
On October 19, 2009 at 12:21 am
good story,,,i like it…thanks for sharing
monica55
On October 19, 2009 at 2:45 am
A well researched and excellently written post. I enjoyed the read.
Monica.
Christine Ramsay
On October 19, 2009 at 6:05 am
I never realised there could be truth to the tale. Interesting thoughts and another great piece of work.
Christine
cutedrishti8
On October 19, 2009 at 8:31 am
Thanks for sharing this..
ReggieLutz
On October 19, 2009 at 1:41 pm
cool article
Rosettaartist1
On October 19, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Interesting
Idazalee
On October 19, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Excellent post! well-researched and very interesting read.I loved mystery story…I really enjoyed it..Well done Mr Ghaz.Keep it up my friend
Frosty Johnson
On October 20, 2009 at 11:43 am
Very interesting, like you say the truth is probably an amalgam of many of the true events that happened to the town.
NSMasry
On October 21, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Excellent! well-written piece..highly informative as well..Well done Mr Ghaz! Thank you
Uma Shankari
On February 7, 2010 at 3:27 am
Excellent, interesting and well told. Engrossing and yes, neat.